Peace activists have taken out a writ against Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon in an attempt to halt installation of 'Star Wars' equipment at the United States' intelligence and communications base in Yorkshire.

They have also sent High Court writs to the US and RAF commanders at the Menwith Hill base outside Harrogate.

They claim installation of the equipment is unlawful under international arms control treaties.

Court action has been launched by the Otley based Campaign for Accountability of American Bases, CAAB.

Menwith Hill US base, alongside the A59 trunk road between Harrogate and Skipton, is linked to “spy” satellites and to other communications bases around the world.

It feeds military, economic, business and political information to the United States, and is controlled and operated by the US National Security Agency.

CAAB activists obtained writs at the High Court in London on October 14 to an attempt to prevent the start of work on new 'Star Wars' radomes and they say these have since been served by post on Defence Secretary Mr Hoon, the RAF commander at the base, Squadron Leader Humphrey Vincent, and the US Commander there, Colonel Clyde D Harthcock.

Anni Rainbow, spokeswoman for the CAAB group in Otley, said: "We sent them by post and they have all been signed for."

She said that two years ago the British Government announced that Menwith Hill was to become a relay station for the United States' Space Based Infra Red System SBIRS.

"About ten days ago we noticed that equipment had appeared and ground preparation work had begun for the construction of two SBIRS radomes." she said.

Breaches

"We believe that the siting of this system at Menwith Hill breaches local, national and international law, in particular the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty of 1972 and the 'Outer Space' treaty of l967.

"Because of the preparations to start the construction of the two SBIRS radomes we felt that we must do something and act quickly. We therefore went to the High Court to begin the legal action." she said.

“The legal struggle now begins and we would welcome any help from lawyers, scientists and politicians or anyone who might be able to contribute in any way – for example in providing a statement for submission to the High Court.

A spokeswoman for the Ministry of Defence said: “We will be considering the legal implications.”

The US and RAF commanders at Menwith Hill were not immediately available to comment.

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