Sussex Police chief Ken Jones today made a personal plea to protesters to stay away from next week's Labour Party conference.

He said he has enough on his hands protecting the Government from terrorists.

The Chief Constable aimed his plea at the pro-hunt lobby which clashed with police outside the House of Commons last week and is allegedly planning to disrupt Labour's conference which runs from Sunday until Thursday.

Activists have threatened to cut electricity supplies to the Brighton Centre and neighbouring hotels and to run packs of hunting hounds through city streets.

Mr Jones said: "My officers, staff and partners have worked extremely hard to ensure the Labour Party conference takes place safely.

"Such conferences are an important feature of our democracy.

"In the last few days we have seen a number of dangerous stunts and disorderly demonstrations in London which have irresponsibly diverted police officers from important tasks related to national security.

"I ask those intent on publicity stunts, civil disobedience or worse to stay away from Brighton and Hove and let my officers concentrate on the real threats we currently face.

"Those who indulge in apparently harmless stunts and disorderly demonstrations need to know that such activities have the potential to divert and weaken our defences and are against the law.

"Lawful protest will, of course, be facilitated."

Two official rallies will be taking place.

Brighton and Hove Albion supporters plan to march on the conference on Monday evening to press home their case for a stadium at Falmer.

Thousands of fans are expected to rally in Madeira Drive at 5.30pm then march along the seafront to protest outside the Brighton Centre as Prime Minister Tony Blair meets delegates.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, who recently ordered the reopening of the Falmer planning inquiry, will be among delegates greeted by chants of "there's only one site in Brighton".

Albion chairman Dick Knight will speak alongside Labour's Lord Bassam and Hove MP Ivor Caplin at a party fringe meeting.

The second demonstration will be led by presenter and actor Tony Robinson and Casualty's Kwame Kwei Armah.

The protest by fair trade group Trade Justice Movement is expected to involve thousands of members who intend to beat pots and pans along the seafront.

The rally, which starts at 1pm on Sunday, will launch a Vote For Trade Justice campaign.

There are expected to be a number of smaller demonstrations.

More than £2 million is being spent on security at the conference and a secure area called the Island Site has been set up by police around the centre and neighbouring hotels.

Hundreds of police, including armed officers, have been drafted in.