X-Men fans mob Stewart

Patrick Stewart arrives at the premiere with fiancee Wendy Neuss

Star Trek actor Patrick Stewart was mobbed by thousands of fans when he turned up for the UK première of his latest film, X-Men.

The 60-year-old British star - Captain Jean-Luc Picard in the TV space series - arrived at the screening in London's Leicester Square with fiancée Wendy Neuss.

He was greeted by around 3,000 people, cheering and screaming, and was clearly touched by the welcome.

All smiles: Halle Berry, one of the stars of X-Men, was in London for the screening

X-Men has been a huge summer hit in America, breaking box office records, and is now tipped to take the UK by storm.

The film is based on a popular Marvel comic. Stewart plays Charles Xavier, who leads a gang of mutants against his sworn enemy Erik Lehnsherr - played by Sir Ian McKellen - to try and save the human race.

Glamorous

Stewart was joined at the Odeon premiere by glamorous co-stars Halle Berry, Famke Janssen and Rebecca Romijin-Stamos, who all wore revealing outfits.

"It's great to be back here in London and get such a great reception," the US-based actor told reporters.

Not a sight for sore eyes - a scene from X-Men

He added: "X-Men has been extraordinary - it had the best opening week for a non-sequel in the history of the world.

"There's such a huge fan base and there has been for over 30 years which made us very nervous, but I think they liked it."

X-Men opens for general release in the UK on Friday 18 August.