TWO people were arrested after breaking into RAF Fylingdales in a protest at the base's role in the proposed Son Of Star Wars system.

Graham Kaynes, 31, and Ulla Roder, 48, were detained while attempting to reach a satellite communication dome, shortly after 7pm yesterday.

News of the arrests was released by the campaign group Trident Ploughshares.

In a statement, the group said the action had been taken "in the name of disarmament".

RAF Fylingdales, based on the North York Moors, could play a key role in the U.S. national missile defence network.

U.S. defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld has officially asked the UK for the use of the base as a detector for Son Of Star Wars.

The campaign group said: "After many years of conventional protest and lobbying politicians, we cannot see any other way now than to prevent this system from being used by dismantling it ourselves in a non-violent, peaceful, open and accountable way."

The two protesters were said to have been detained at Scarborough police station.

Updated: 12:49 Monday, December 30, 2002