A NORTH-East design firm has played an integral role in the latest chapter of a cult science fiction epic that 35 years after its launch as a film is still drawing a massive following.

Keltie Cochrane was chosen by Lucas Film Ltd to design the cover for the latest Star Wars novel, which is launched today.

It marks the end of a four-year deal which has seen the Newcastle firm design the covers for nine novels based around the popular film series.

Keltie Cochrane were sought out directly by the publisher Random House in New York and Lucas Film Ltd in San Francisco to pitch for the design of the Star Wars novels.

They won despite being up against a New York based movie poster design studio.

Keltie Cochrane creative director Ian Keltie said: "We are very privileged to have worked with Star Wars; it's been a dream come true.

"The brand being so huge worldwide has been a fantastic profile builder, however it has also meant there was an immense amount of pressure on us to deliver something that the dedicated fans would appreciate.

"Having received some wonderful feedback from people all around the world who have followed the storylines of Star Wars for the past 30 years, I really couldn't ask for a greater feeling of satisfaction in my job.

"A hidden gem to the project was that in order to create the artwork I was given the passwords to the Star Wars image vault which is full of the original photography and behind the scenesimagery, which I had to promise to never share - I felt honoured to be part of a privileged few with something that was so special to so many people."