Hunched on top of the North York Moors, the giant concrete triangle that is RAF Fylingdales can be seen for miles.

The large circles on each of its sides look just like targets - which of course is precisely what some people fear they might become if George W Bush pushes ahead with his Son Of Star Wars missile defence programme.

Goathland, a couple of miles away across the moors and setting of TV's Heartbeat, couldn't look less like a place under threat of nuclear holocaust. But what do locals and visitors alike think of having a potential nuclear target sitting on their doorstep?

"I've no objection to it being used," says Brian Cooper, from Wakefield, who's brought some friends from Australia to see Heartbeat Country.

"It's in the worldwide interest."

Well, yes. But what if the missile defence system, of which it is to be part, is only to protect the US, not the UK? He looks shocked. "If it's just for the Americans, I would be annoyed. It would be wrong."

"You've got to have something," insists Terry Hendley, who's up on holiday from Kent. "I'm all for nuclear deterrent."

His friend, Nesta Wood, isn't impressed, though.

"Definitely not!" she says. "The Americans are just doing it for themselves!" Does she have any message for George W Bush. "Yes. B***** off home." Terry looks shocked. "We're going to be arguing about it all day, now," says Nesta.

Philip Hopkinson runs the Aidensfield stores, and lives in Pickering. "My personal view is that it isn't going to be doing any more than it was before," he says.

But if the system is only used to protect the US? "If that's true, if we're being used to provide cover for another country, then surely we should be provided with cover as well." What does he think of George W Bush? "Does he know where England is?" he asks.

Bob Wood, who runs the Goathland Garage (otherwise known as the Aidensfield Garage when the TV cameras are around), will allow no disloyalty to our American allies.

Asked what he thinks of plans to use Fylingdales as part of the missile defence system, he counters with a question of his own:"Do you think it's a good idea to have the stick back in school?"

Pardon?

"Do you think it's a good idea to have the stick back in school?" He pauses, and explains as if to an idiot.

"It's a deterrent, isn't it?"

Someone tries to object. "My view is that it's there for a purpose," Bob says. "If we don't get it upgraded we might as well go back to pea-shooters."

Game, set and match.

Updated: 16:44 Thursday, February 07, 2002