A CONTROVERSIAL campaign by a Tonbridge animal rights group calling for a public boycott of four of the UK's biggest health charities has had a mixed reaction.

Animal Aid, based in Bradford Street in Tonbridge, last week called on people to halt donations to Cancer Research UK, the British Heart Foundation, Parkinson's UK and the Alzheimer's Society over animal testing carried out as part of their research into cures.

The boycott was this week backed by the Tonbridge and Malling Green Party, whose campaigns officer Hazel Dawe said: "Parkinson's is a terrible disease and research is needed to find a cure or, at the very least, mitigate its effects.

"However, there is no need to torture and kill animals in laboratories to do that."

Cancer Research UK, however, slammed Animal Aid this week.

Dr David Scott, director of science funding, said: "If this campaign were to be successful, it will damage the progress we're making in beating cancer."

Turn to Letters, page 49