The hotly anticipated latest addition in the Star Wars franchise, The Force Awakens, has had its world premiere in Los Angeles.

Stars attended from the original series, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher, as well as newcomers including John Boyega and Daisy Ridley.

The plot of the film remains a closely-guarded secret and a media embargo on reviews is in place until Wednesday.

Fans, many in costume, camped out for days for the chance to see the stars on the red carpet for what is probably the most eagerly awaited film of the decade.

The size and scale are a reflection of the enduring popularity of this sci-fi saga, and of the anticipation surrounding this latest instalment.

The red carpet here is around half a mile long, under a huge marquee which stretches the length of four blocks of Hollywood Boulevard.

The world premiere itself has taken over three different cinemas, and 4,000 guests are expected. Security has been tight with everyone entering the area around the event subject to bag searches and metal detectors.

There is a huge degree of excitement surrounding what is rivalling the Oscars as the film event of the year.

Disney, the studio behind the film, is hoping this will all give this new Star Wars movie a stellar launch. They paid more than $4bn (£2.6bn) for the rights to the franchise. Anticipation for the film has been huge, and in October some cinema websites shit down under the weight of demand for tickets.