ANTI-war campaigners today reacted with outrage to the Government's "preliminary" agreement to the American request to use North Yorkshire spy base Fylingdales for Son of Star Wars.

CND members and Yorkshire peace campaigners said Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon's decision "made a mockery" of the consultation on National Missile Defence (NMD), or Son of Star Wars.

Mr Hoon's Labour backbench colleagues have accused him of "slavish devotion" to the U.S. after admitting work to upgrade Fylingdales for NMD could begin as early as this year.

Veteran Yorkshire peace campaigner Annie Rainbow said: "The whole thing is disgraceful. The defence select committee only recently asked for more views on this, but now the decision seems to have been made."

Dave Webb, chairman of Yorkshire CND, said he felt the British Government had given consent before the Americans officially asked for it. He said: "The U.S. would not have made the formal request if they did not know it would be agreed to."

Mr Hoon faced a storm of criticism from backbenchers for taking less than a month to agree to hand over the base for NMD.

Only 28 days - of which Parliament was sitting for just eight - passed before he yesterday announced the "preliminary conclusion" that the answer to the U.S. "must be yes".

He also faced calls from Ryedale MP John Greenway, whose constituency includes Fylingdales, to give something back to the people of North Yorkshire - such as an upgrade to the A64.

Tory Mr Greenway, who backs missile defence, said Mr Hoon must be careful to consult North Yorkshire residents.

He said: "Will he urge his colleagues in Government to do something to help the local economy, tourism and our transport infrastructure?

"In other words, we are quite prepared to continue to accommodate this radar in our area, but we would like some recognition from the Government we do have other needs."

Scarborough and Whitby MP Lawrie Quinn asked whether security would need to be upgraded around Fylingdales, and whether NMD would work.

Mr Hoon admitted upgrading work was expected to start by December this year, and could be completed by 2005.

But he insisted giving the U.S. permission did not mean the Government would automatically allow missiles to be based on British soil.

He also stressed there would be no change to the appearance of Fylingdales or its power output, and that the upgrade would be paid for by the U.S.

He argued it was vital for Britain to be a part of NMD.

Ms Rainbow said anti-NMD

protests would continue. Public opinion was turning against the system, she said.

Updated: 11:14 Thursday, January 16, 2003