'Three hobbits and an elf' leave Liverpool diners gobsmacked

(L-R) Billy Boyd, Elijah Wood, Dominic Monaghan and Orlando Bloom surprised staff when they turned up at the Belzan bistro in Liverpool

A chef said he was "gobsmacked" when four Hollywood actors dropped into his Liverpool restaurant.

Lord Of The Rings stars Elijah Wood, Orlando Bloom, Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan took a table at the Belzan bistro on Friday.

Chef Sam Grainger said: "In walked three hobbits and an elf, and literally everyone was gobsmacked."

The actors were set to appear at the Comic Con event at the city's exhibition centre.

Mr Grainger said it would have been special "to see one of them, but all of them together" at the Smithdown Road restaurant made it more precious.

"Elijah Wood is very, very recognisable - I don't think he has aged," he said.

Mr Grainger, who appeared in the BBC show Great British Menu last year, described the quartet as "really great, nice guys who had an amazing laugh" and "nearly ate the whole menu".

The actors were set to be joined by fellow Lord Of The Rings actors Sean Astin and Andy Serkis at the Comic Con event at Exhibition Centre Liverpool.