TOURISTS and hikers have been warned to stay away from Mount Doom - made famous in The Lord Of The Rings movies - because it could erupt any moment.

According to The Sun, Temperatures at Mount Ruapehu, the real name of the active volcano in New Zealand’s Tongariro National Park, have doubled in the last few weeks, surging from 25C to 45C. There has also been a huge increase of both carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide output at the volcano’s Crater Lake, which last erupted six years ago. Mount Ruapehu was used to film a number of scenes in the epic film trilogy. Scientists have raised its status to “heightened unrest”. Volcanologist Geoff Kilgour said: “Taken together these data now indicate more volcanic unrest at Mount Ruapehu. “The increased gas output coupled with high heat flow and volcanic tremor imply a higher likelihood of activity.” GNS Science released a Volcanic Alert Bulletin warning people not to come within two kilometres of Crater Lake. Paul Carr, Operations Manager for Tongariro, said: “We recommend climbers, trampers and walkers do not enter the zone. “Guiding companies should also heed the advice and not take people into the zone.”