A BLACK tie ball with a difference is planned for North Yorkshire spy base Menwith Hill.

To mark American Independence Day, July 4, hundreds of peace protesters are set to gather at the base, near Harrogate, for "The Gatecrashers' Ball."

Ballgoers have been encouraged to wear black tie or ball gowns, but the crowd will include samba bands, Morris dancers, DJs, street theatre groups and much more.

Political comedian and satirist Mark Thomas is due to speak at the demonstration.

The Independence Day protest has been held at Menwith Hill every year since the early 1980s.

Activists hope to secure "independence from American militarism," and will read their own declaration of independence at the ball.

Veteran demonstrator Anni Rainbow, of the Campaign for Accountability of American Bases, said: "The US government has put the world in crisis. We have to be independent from America. We look forward to the day when the US visiting forces and their agencies return to within their own borders. We are determined that they do.

"It is a secretive base, unaccountable and out of control of the UK government."

Last year's demonstration passed off without major incident, but the 2001 protest was dubbed "The Battle of Menwith Hill" after more than 100 protesters stormed the base.

Some Greenpeace activists strolled in through Menwith Hill's front gates unchallenged, while others used ladders to scale three-metre high razor wire fences.

A number of demonstrators chained themselves to buildings while others climbed up 60 metre high masts, staying there for more than 24 hours.

That protest was centred on opposition to British involvement in the US National Missile Defence system, or Son of Star Wars.

Early this year, the British government controversially granted permission for the US to upgrade Menwith Hill, and Fylingdales, near Whitby, so they can be used for NMD.

The Independence Day protest is due to start at noon on July 4.

Updated: 11:05 Thursday, June 12, 2003