The Bluedot festival hopes visitors will embrace their inner Jedi with a series of Star Wars themed activities at the Jodrell Bank event.

To celebrate 40 years since the birth of Star Wars, Bluedot will create a Jedi Training Academy with Padawans taught by Andrew Lawden, the stunt double for Jedi master Qui Gon Jinn in ‘Star Wars – Phantom Menace Episode 1’.

Andrew, who was taught the light saber technique on set, will be sharing light saber battle moves from the film and giving people the chance to own a personally signed replica light saber.

Bluedot will also welcome the original Darth Vader, Dave Prowse. He’ll be in conversation with Brian Muir - the man credited with sculpting Darth Vader’s helmet – with an interactive Q&A session.

Bluedot organiser Ben Robinson said: “The Star Wars universe is loved and adored by millions, the anniversary of the original film is a big occasion and Bluedot seems the right place to celebrate the galactic cultural phenomenon the movies have become.

"Never did I imagine that Darth Vader would be appearing at the event, with Hawkwind also on the Sunday it will be a cosmic day out for all!”

Star Wars fans who would like to take part in the free classes can sign up on the day at the Bluedot festival.

Launched last year , the three-day festival returns to the University of Manchester's Jodrell Bank observatory in Macclesfield with a programme of music, arts and science this summer, from July 7 to 9.

The originators of live dance music, Orbital are back after a five-year hiatus to headline the main stage, in the shadow of the Lovell radio telescope, in their only northern show of the summer. Also headlining in another northern festival exclusive will be veteran alt-rockers Pixies.

French electronic maestro Vitalic will also be bringing his genre-busting blend of techno, electro, house and disco to the line-up.

Also already confirmed are Soulwax, performing with their full electronic live show, LA dream-pop four piece Warpaint and a UK festival exclusive from psych-swing revolutionaries Ezra Furman and The Boyfriends.

The DJ ranks have also swelled with the addition of Mr Scruff, DJ Yoda, Eddy Temple Morris and DJ Cheeba, as well as Hot Chip frontman Joe Goddard and Late Night Tales presenting Nightmares On Wax.

The full line-up can be seen at discoverthebluedot.com , where tickets are on sale now starting from £159 for the full weekend with camping.

Elsewhere on the bill are Space Afrika, Will Tramp, Dream Wife, Galaxians, Sweat, Xam Duo, WH Lung, DJ Woody, Kelly Lee Owens, Andy Votel presents History of Space Rock, Post War Glamour Girls and Annabel Fraser.