HUNDREDS of animal rights activists are today gathering at a Kent animal sanctuary for a controversial anti-vivisection convention.

But they will be without an American key-note speaker - at least in person - as he has been banned from entering the country by the Government.

US surgeon Dr Jerry Vlasak is instead vowing to address the conference via a video link after the Home Office said his presence in Britain "would not be conducive to the public good".

The surgeon, who has denied advocating the assassination of scientists who test on animals, says he is also considering legal action.

On their website, organisers said: "It is unbelievable that Jerry Vlasak cannot come to the UK to explain why testing on animals is unscientific when he did just that less than four months ago without any problems."

At Animal Rights 2004, being held at the Friend Farm Animal Sanctuary in East Peckham, activists will learn skills including self-defence, security and under-cover work.

Kent Police said it will be monitoring the gathering and policing it accordingly. The Home Office says it is down to the local police and the Crown Prosecution Service to decide if anything inflammatory or inciteful to committing a criminal offence is said.

Organisers could also be held responsible and prosecuted under public order offences.

On the event website, the campaign groups say they aim to minimise disruption to villagers. "It is our goal to have this event pass off as smoothly as possible to the benefit of everyone.

"It is simply a gathering of activists from around the world to swap legal ideas and tactics. All the workshops are peaceful, legitimate and useful to all activists."

But they warn activists to be wary of undercover police and journalists. They say: "Though the gathering is for animal rights activists only, it is still a public space, so not the ideal place for talking openly about stuff not for everyone's ears."