MONTHS of work to celebrate York's Cancer Care Haven lay in ruins today because of the Barry Horne hunger strike protest.

Supporters of Barry Horne show a message outside York District Hospital today

This Saturday's long-awaited official opening of the centre at York District Hospital has been postponed on police advice, a hospital spokesman confirmed today.

The haven was built through the generosity of readers who supported an Evening Press appeal with the charity York Against Cancer.

Health and charity workers had been eagerly looking forward to marking the success, but security at the hospital was stepped up after protesters backing animal rights hunger striker Barry Horne massed at the hospital gates over the weekend and climbed on to a rooftop.

Today, hospital consultant physician Roger Boyle said York police had recommended the opening be put off for fear of sparking a violent reaction from the protesters.

But a spokesman from the Animals Betrayed Coalition said he thought the police had overreacted and Horne's supporters would not have tried to exploit the opening to publicise their cause.

He told the Evening Press: "I just think the police are being paranoid and a bit overzealous in their reaction."

Mark Sessions, chairman of York Against Cancer, said he knew there would be widespread disappointment but the charity supported both the police and hospital in taking the decision to call off the event.

"Due to the increased security at York District Hospital the police have advised that the dedication and opening of the Cancer Care Centre and the dedication of the Christmas tree should be postponed," said Mr Sessions.

"We feel very sad that events have overtaken us. We would like to remind our supporters that York Against Cancer does not use animals in any of its research projects."

Evening Press editor Liz Page said today: "How desperately disappointing it is when hundreds of readers have raised money for this haven.

"It is a real boon to the area, a much-needed facility, and here we have a convicted bomber on hunger strike which means that the centre is unable to have its official opening.

"It is a great shame that the opening has had to be postponed. We hope to rearrange the event for a later date.

"The important thing is that the centre is up and running, and our thanks go again to the readers for making it all possible."

Dr Boyle said: "We are very, very sad that we had to make this decision but we have had to make it with due regard to safety of visitors and the hospital itself.

"Last weekend we were virtually forced to close the doors of the hospital to keep it secure for our patients, staff and visitors and with this in mind is seems unwise to have an event going ahead which will bring a lot of people on to the site."

Chief Inspector Gary Barnett, of York police, said: "Clearly cancer care is a very sensitive issue and since part of the opening ceremony involves being in the open air near a main road it is impossible to guarantee the dignified and proper atmosphere which those people attending the service deserve.

The Cancer Care Haven Appeal had a target of £100,000 and raised a total of about £110,000.

The Prison Service said Barry Horne, now on the 63rd day of his hunger strike, continued to be in a serious but stable condition.

The decision has been taken that he will stay at the York hospital for the time being despite mounting concern at the rising bill.

Horne, who is serving an 18-year sentence for firebombing, says he will call off his protest only if the Government agrees to set up a Royal Commission on animal testing.

Home office minister George Howarth said the Government would not be held to ransom.

see COMMENT 'Enough's enough, Mr Horne'

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