RESIDENTS were more bemused than troubled by an animal rights conference on their doorstep that sparked national controversy.

The three-day event at the Friend Farm Animal Sanctuary in East Peckham, the first of its kind to be held in the UK, attracted huge media attention.

Neighbours living beyond the farm gates admitted initial concern about their area allegedly being used as a "training ground" for extremists.

One resident, living near the farm, said: "I don't really know what they've been doing over there. We were worried initially about what was going to happen. It's the unknown, I guess.

"In the end the only downside has been the noise at night, not music just chatter into the early hours. I have nothing against them but I will be glad for them to go just to get some sleep."

The conference hit the headlines because of US surgeon Dr Jerry Vlasak, who had been invited to be one of the key speakers at the global animal rights gathering.

He was banned from entering the UK by Home Secretary David Blunkett after allegedly advocating the assassination of scientists who test on animals.

Dr Vlasak, who denies making the claim, still spoke at the confererence from his home in the United States by video link.

In the video he is understood to have said that if governments were acting against animal rights campaigners it meant their work was having an effect. He did not repeat the disputed comments allegedly made to a national newspaper.

Greg Avery, from animal rights campaign group SHAC, said the controversy had boosted the profile of a conference that would otherwise have gone unnoticed.

He said: "We were expecting 50-100 people. Instead it has been four to five times more successful in bringing people together to discuss our future tactics to stop animal abuse."

Organisers took members of the press and broadcast media on a carefully orchestrated tour of the site on Sunday, including some workshops

One focused on self-defence where activists were giving advice on how to defend themselves if attacked while out on sabotage missions.

Mr Avery said advice given on eye gouges and hitting neck pressure points were appropriate, claiming activists needed to be able to protect themselves.

We were also shown a workshop on disruptive techniques for fox hunts and one advising the over fifties on how to use their age to fight for the cause.

Others workshops during the three-day programme, but not seen by the press, included tips on organising campaigns and undercover work.