FOUR Greenpeace activists were today clinging to masts high above RAF Menwith Hill, near Harrogate, as protests against Son of Star Wars continued into American Independence Day.

A lone protester called Ricko, who stayed on the American spy base overnight after evading capture by police, was joined by three others who broke into the site this morning.

Ricko, from New Zealand, two British men and a Danish woman climbed 60 metres up the masts, where they displayed banners opposing the American plans for a missile defence shield, which are said by protesters to involve Menwith.

"The four are in good spirits but a little tired," said Greenpeace spokeswoman Louise Edge.

Security was tighter at the base today after yesterday's invasion by more than a hundred activists.The Ministry of Defence said four arrests had been made.

Meanwhile, a second protest against the missile defence shield was planned today by the Campaign for the Accountability of American Bases, which was driving in convoy from Menwith Hill to RAF Fylingdales on the North York Moors.

Updated: 10:58 Wednesday, July 04, 2001