PEACE campaigners today warned that Prime Minister Tony Blair could give the go-ahead for a North Yorkshire military base to join the controversial Son of Star Wars missile defence system as early as next week.

The warning came after the BBC claimed Ministry of Defence sources had said the U.S. had put in an official request to use RAF Fylingdales.

And a national newspaper predicted the request would be announced on Tuesday.

This follows months of speculation over the Government's increasing public support for Son of Star Wars.

"We don't know exactly what the announcement will be, but we have our suspicions," said Yorkshire CND development worker Neil Kingsnorth.

"The timing of this anticipated statement goes to show what PR exercises this Government are adopting.

"After saying nothing for the best part of a year, over the past six months, Defence Minister Geoff Hoon has spoken numerous times on nuclear missile defence.

"Mr Hoon said there would be public consultation is a request was put in. We are hoping there still will be and he has not made the decision behind closed doors."

But a Ministry of Defence spokesman denied any announcement was to be made, adding no request had yet been made.

Meanwhile, six women were arrested yesterday at the Menwith Hill spy base, near Harrogate.

More than 200 women were protesting against the possibility of a war with Iraq.

Updated: 12:05 Saturday, December 14, 2002