It was probably a bit on the Dark Side for this squirrel - as it tucked into nuts stashed in a Darth Vader helmet.

Star Wars fan Emma Young converted a novelty lamp into a feeder by hollowing out the insides.

And it did not take long before a hungry squirrel came to investigate, quickly finding the meal it was looking for in the garden of her home in Beaulieu, Hampshire.

Bizarre pictures show the rodent walking around on a log with the suspended helmet covering its head.

The 40-year-old, who has created several novelty items as bird and squirrel feeders over the years, said: 'With the new Star Wars film coming out, I just had to try this. It was just the right size for a squirrel.

'I used a mixture of peanut butter and peanuts and packed it inside the head.

The care worker and mother of two said it was not long before one squirrel turned up to examine the feeder.

'He looked a bit nervous at first, just gazing up at the head, but I think the smell of peanuts overcame any fear, and he soon stuffed his head in to reach the goodies,' she said.

'It looked hilarious, especially when he had both arms waving around as he tucked in.

'The squirrels know winter's well and truly here, so are keen to eat the nuts and also bury some of them in my lawn for storage.'

Emma said the squirrel spent a good 20 minutes munching the food she had loaded into the head, before jumping off the log.

The damaged remains of Darth Vader's helmet appear in the trailer for the latest movie, and fan sites predict the character will return in the next Star Wars film, currently in production.