North Yorkshire peace campaigners vowed to keep up the pressure on the Government after reports indicated Prime Minister Tony Blair will support the US in its 'Son of Star Wars' project.

Campaigners - and defence experts - say the project is dependent on the Fylingdales spy base, near Whitby.

This, they say, would make North Yorkshire a top military target.

National newspaper reports claim the Prime Minister has said he is ready to seek a way of helping find America protection from "rogue state" missile attacks.

But Mr Blair said any solution must also meet concerns from other states.

So far he has stopped short of committing Fylingdales to the scheme, but is due to meet Mr Bush for the first time on February 23 when the issue is sure to be a priority.

Yorkshire CND campaigner Dave Webb said the main argument for the scheme - protection from rogue states - was a myth.

And he said he hopes Mr Blair is "playing political games" until after the General Election.

He said: "I just don't see who these rogue states that may fire a missile at the US are. The states know that would be suicide, the Americans know the same thing. The argument just doesn't stand up."

"We will continue to campaign very hard against this."

Updated: 14:22 Friday, February 16, 2001