Hunger striker Barry Horne could be transferred away from York District Hospital following a weekend of action by the animal rights activist's militant supporters.

A supporter of Barry Horne fixes banners to Monk Bar in York

Health chiefs say a transfer out of York, which has always been an option, was one of the matters to be discussed at a meeting with the prison service this afternoon.

And they also revealed that the York Health Trust is to bill the Home Office for thousands of pounds after a tight security alert was imposed over the weekend.

York District Hospital general manager Colin Watts said it would be charged for additional costs imposed by the arrival of Horne - which he estimated came to around £5,000 so far.

The alert meant that all entrances and exits at the Wigginton Road complex - other than the main entrance - were locked until 8am today, and security staff were used to vet visitors, as supporters of the animal rights activist took the most militant action yet seen in York.

Activists climbed on to the roof of the radiology department and several went into the accident and emergency department, said general manager Colin Watts. In both cases, the protesters were persuaded to leave.

But Mr Watts told the Evening Press today that the difficulties caused by Horne's supporters, and also national media coverage of the issue, were causing stress for staff.

Meanwhile, Horne, now in the 62nd day of his hunger strike, was said today to be on the verge of slipping into a coma.

A spokesman for the hospital said his condition was stable, but continued to give cause for concern.

Robin Webb, of the Animals Betrayed Coalition, claimed: "Barry is blind in one eye, has almost lost sight in the other and is deaf in one ear. His weight has fallen from 14st to 8st.

"He is also looking very jaundiced because of the liver damage he has suffered. His potassium levels are very low, which will probably induce hallucinations. It is only a matter of time now."

But Horne, who is serving an 18-year sentence for firebombing, put out a statement strongly denying claims in yesterday's Observer newspaper that he had said he wanted to die.

"I categorically deny ever saying I wanted to die," he said, but added that he would call off his protest only if the Government set up a Royal Commission into the use of animals in experiments.

Mr Watts said the security alert had been imposed because the authorities were aware that many more supporters were coming to York over the weekend who might take a more aggressive stance. Reporters from national and international papers and broadcasting organisations had also been trying to get into the hospital and had been ejected.

John, a member of the Animals Betrayed Coalition attending the vigil outside the hospital today, said a handful out of more than 200 who took part in the vigil over the weekend had climbed on to a roof to hang a banner. "It was not our intention to be aggressive. We have taken a conscious decision not to interfere with the running of the hospital."

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