The New Zealand premi�re of the new Lord of the Rings movie is to be staged during daylight because of security fears in the wake of the Bali bombings in October, organisers have said.

Plans for a night street carnival in to celebrate the launch of The Two Towers, the second big screen adaptation of JRR Tolkien's novels, have been cancelled.

Much of the film was shot on location in New Zealand

The capital Wellington will instead host a daytime street party after the film's United States backers raised security concerns.

More than 180 people were killed in the blasts in the Balinese resort town of Kuta and the island's capital Denpasar.

"The Americans have come through saying they're actually not happy now having a big night function," Wellington mayor Mark Blumsky said.

'Concerned'

The premi�re is due to take place on 18 December and the film's stars will be taken from the area as soon as the early evening screening ends, he said.

"They're just a bit concerned about security at night with all the stars milling round with all the people.

"They thought that might be an issue so they've asked us to reschedule it and go back to doing it... in the daylight," he added.

The three movies - all shot back-to-back in New Zealand over an 18-month period, are being released over three years.

The first film pulled in more than $700m (�449m) worldwide and won four Oscars from 13 nominations.

The trilogy has been made by Wellington-based director Peter Jackson and financed by US studio New Line Cinema.

The New Zealand premi�re will follow events in London, Paris and New York, where it will receive its world premi�re on 5 December.

The film, starring Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen and Viggo Mortensen, is released in more than 15 countries on 18 December.