Hundreds audition for JJ Abrams' 'Star Wars Episode VII'

Hundreds of people queued for open auditions in the English city of Bristol on Saturday as the search began for lead roles in the next Star Wars film.

Disney announced last week they were looking for actors to play a 17-year-old woman who is "street-smart" and "strong" and a "smart and capable" young man for roles in "Star Wars Episode VII".

The two-day auditions at the city's Arnolfini arts centre are the first of a series of open sessions being held across Britain and Ireland over the coming weeks.

Doors at the Arnolfini were set to open between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm, though some people arrived as early as 2:00 am.

Many were left disappointed as entry was closed a few minutes early.

"Disgraceful planning Disney," a woman whose son was travelling to Bristol for the audition posted on Twitter.

The seventh film in the science fiction series and the first of a new trilogy is set to be directed by Star Trek film-maker JJ Abrams. The film is due to go into production next year with a planned release in December 2015.

According to Disney, the new trilogy will carry the story of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Princess Leia beyond "Return of the Jedi", the sixth film in the saga.

Star Wars creator George Lucas launched production house Lucasfilm in 1971 and the first film was released in 1977. Disney bought Lucasfilm a year ago for for 2.6 billion pounds ($4 billion).