Sean Foot, famous for applying the prosthetic feet to the hobbits in Peter Jackson\'s Lord of the Rings trilogy, has been charged with possession of ecstasy.

He resigned his job at the Design and Arts College soon after being charged, telling the managing director he no longer felt able to be a role model to the students.

Foot\'s work with Weta Workshop has featured in films such as Heavenly Creatures, The Chronicles of Narnia, The Last Samurai and the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

The Chronicles of Narnia won an Academy Award for achievement in make-up.

Despite Foot\'s speedy resignation, parents of students at the Design and Arts College are furious.

One woman wrote to The Press claiming Foot socialised with the students, some as young as 16.

The letter, signed \"A very angry and concerned mother\", said some students felt sorry for Foot and were going to his flat to visit him.

When news of the arrest broke two weekends ago, the college posted notices around campus advising students not to speak to the media.

Design and Arts College managing director Susan McAllister said staff and students were \"clearly upset\" by Foot\'s departure after he had taught teaching at the college for 2½ years.

One student, who declined to be named, said Foot was a great teacher who was very influential because of his 15-year association with Peter Jackson\'s films.

He described him as a \"pretty quiet guy, not very outspoken\".

McAllister said the make-up and prosthetics course Foot taught had only a week left when he resigned. An industry advisory team had been brought in to ensure all students completed their qualifications.

Most students were between 18 and their late 20s, with an average age of 22 years, she said.

Police said yesterday that Foot had been charged with possession of a class B substance on October 26.

Court officials said Foot had been granted bail on October 31 by a registrar and was due to appear on November 15.

Attempts to contact Foot yesterday were unsuccessful. He features in the documentary about the making of A Day in the Life of a Hobbit, on the fourth disk of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Special Extended Edition.

In the film, Foot is seen applying the hobbit feet to actor Sean Astin, who spells out Foot\'s name as \"F-O-O-T-E\".

Ironically in the present circumstances, Foot replies: \"No E, no, no E.\"