Prison service chiefs have made special arrangements for the release of disgraced former pop star Gary Glitter because of fears for his safety.

One report says Glitter - whose real name is Paul Gadd - will be smuggled out of prison on Tuesday after receiving anonymous death threats in jail.

The report said threatening letters had been sent to the singer's friends and to the Bristol prison where he has been serving his sentence.

Glitter was jailed in November after admitting 54 charges of possessing child pornography downloaded from the internet.

He has served two months of a four-month term at Bristol Prison in Horfield, where he is reported to have been kept separated from other prisoners.

The Prison Service has refused to comment on the reported threats, but a spokesman said: "Due to serious concerns over the prisoner's safety and public order around the prison, alternative arrangements have been made for the release of Paul Gadd from Bristol prison on January 11."

Glitter, 55, will have his name put on the sex offenders' register for seven years after his release.

'New life in Cuba'

It is not known what he will do once he leaves jail, though he is believed to have sold his house in Wedmore, Somerset, leaving only a home in London.

One report speculated that he will leave Britain and begin a new life in Cuba.

But Glitter will have to notify police of any change of address.

His jail sentence came after he admitted making indecent photographs of children under 16 between January and November, 1997.

The admissions came hours after a trial jury cleared him of eight charges of sexually assaulting an underage fan.