FORMER Star Wars actor and long-time New Milton resident Ron Phillips has died aged 95.

Ron passed away at Lymington Hospital, where he'd been admitted intermittently since the end of last year following a series of falls.

Despite his Tom Thumb stature of only 4ft 6ins, caused by a childhood operation, Ron had been fiercely independent, living alone and insisting on doing all his own DIY and repair work at his Carlton Avenue home.

It was Tom's small stature that saw him in great demand in the entertainment industry, especially after joining Fred Roper's Midget Troop in the 1930s and touring the UK, South Africa and America.

He also appeared in Henry Manning's Miracle Town at the New York Fair, which involved singing, dancing, acrobatics and trick cycling.

During the 1940s he formed a swing band called the Ron Phillips Modernists, in which he played the alto saxophone.

After retiring, he ran a greengrocers before moving to New Milton but still dabbled in pantomimes and advertising.

But the big screen beckoned in the 1980s when Ron played an Ewok in the classic Star Wars film Return of the Jedi.

Ron said at the time that the Ewok suit was unbearably hot, and when someone stole his custom-made head he had to make do with an off-the-peg version which was extremely uncomfortable.

At the time of his death he was still receiving requests from Star Wars fans worldwide for autographed photos.

A trained engineer, Ron was a long-time member of Hoburne Naish leisure club and a keen sportsman.

He was also one of the first patients to stay at the new Lymington Hospital when it opened at the beginning of the year.