Sparks Fly Over End of Filming Street Party
Staff Reporter

A street closure in the Central otago town of Clyde on Saturday night for a Lord of the Rings film party upset some residents -- but others jumped at the opportunity to join the fray.

Up to 450 Lord of the Rings cast and crew threw the party on Clyde's main street to celebrate the end of filming at Poolburn dam, 40 kilometres east of Alexandra. Local hotels were booked out and bar-tabs worth several thousand dollars were made available. Fireworks and two bands entertained the punters.

However, many residents were upset at the lack of warning that the main street would be closed to traffic between 9pm and midnight, and that most pedestrians were unable to enter.

Dunstan Hotel publican Shane Attfield said he only learned "officially" that barricades were going up next to the hotel an hour before it happened. Many locals could not enter the street.

Security guards stopped people without Lord of the Rings identification from entering.

"A few people demanded to go through and they got in. I think the security agents knew they didn't have a leg to stand on," Mr Attfield said.

Central Otago District Council manager of assets and contracts, Peter Marks, said he was approached the day before the party and asked for permission to block the street to vehicles. He gave the party the go-ahead if police, the fire service and residents were informed.

The party, which went till 9am, attracted two complaints but police said people were extremely well behaved.  -NZPA