DEFENCE Secretary Geoff Hoon today announced RAF Fylingdales should play a central part in the USA's Son of Star Wars defence system.

The controversial decision to accept US President George Bush's request to use the base was told to the House of Commons.

Mr Hoon said he had comee to the "preliminary conclusion" that the North Yorkshire early warning radar station should be used because it would provide "an invaluable extra insurance against the development of a still uncertain but potentially catastrophic threat to the citizens of this country."

Son of Star Wars is a proposed system that would allow missiles attacking the US to be shot from the air.

But opponents have claimed using Fylingdales would make North Yorkshire a potential target for the USA's enemies.

Updated: 16:03 Wednesday, January 15, 2003