Campaigners in balaclavas stood outside the University of Sussex yesterday to protest against animal testing.

Members of Brighton Animal Action staged the demonstration to object to testing they claim has been carried out at the site.

They maintain rats, mice, gerbils, guinea pigs, chicks, rabbits and voles have all been used in experiments.

They say rats were made to be addicted to alcohol, mice injected with ethanol and rabbits given heart shocks. All the alleged experiments were within the law.

Group member Denise Friend, 50, said: "It is surprising an awful lot of students were shocked as they didn't realise animal testing is carried out on campus."

The protesters also advertised a film showing tonight at the Duke of York's cinema in Preston Circus, Brighton.

Behind the Mask, starting at 6.30pm, is a documentary looking at animal rights activists who take direct action.

A university spokesman said: "A strictly limited amount of testing involving animals takes place under carefully controlled conditions, approved and monitored by the Home Office."

He said the group's claims were "substantially untrue and misleading" and denied shock treatment on rabbits.