Tolkien relative joins Rings cast

Tolkien (left) plays a heroic ranger in the film

The great-grandson of Lord of the Rings author JRR Tolkien is to appear in the final instalment of the movie trilogy.

Director Peter Jackson asked Royd Tolkien, 34, to play a Gondorian Ranger in The Return of the King.

Mr Tolkien, who is from North Wales, said it was "a huge privilege" to take the role in the film, released worldwide between 17-20 December.

Meanwhile, Frodo actor Elijah Wood said he has kept the ring prop from the film but refuses to wear it.

Mr Tolkien said: "I was just blown away when Peter Jackson came up with the idea of putting a Tolkien into the film and to be a Gondorian Ranger is a huge privilege."

He also said he was "incredibly proud" his great-grandfather's stories had been translated on to the big screen.

The Return of the King, the final part of Jackson's trilogy, was premièred in Wellington, New Zealand last week and opens in the UK on 17 December.

The-34-year-old is "incredibly proud" of the stories

Wood said in an interview he was still in awe of the ring but would not wear it, as a reminder of the hobbit character he plays.

"I keep in with the symbolism of the character. It's the only thing about the character that will live on. I keep it away," he said.

The 22-year-old actor said he had also kept a sword prop and one of the 1,600 pairs of hobbit feet that were made for the trilogy.

"I've got the last pair that I wore and they probably stink like hell," he said, ahead of the film's European première in Berlin on Sunday.

"The first time I saw the last hour of the movie I was in hysterics, crying, sobbing," the actor said. "It is sad that it's all kind of over but at the same time there is a real sense of accomplishment now."