A FORMER United Nations weapons inspector joined peace campaigners protesting outside a US base yesterday.

Scott Ritter addressed a crowd of up to 100 activists outside Menwith Hill listening station, near Harrogate, North Yorkshire.

The annual Campaign for the Accountability of American Bases protest is organised to coincide with American Independence Day

Veteran peace campaigner Lindis Percy, who last month defeated a Ministry of Defence attempt to have an anti-social behaviour order imposed on her after hundreds of trespasses at the base, spoke alongside Mr Ritter.

"Menwith Hill is crucial in the American missile defence programme, along with Fylingdales, on the moors, between Scarborough and Whitby," she said.

"This is something that George Bush and Tony Blair seem to be keeping very quiet about."

Organisers said the event tied in with protests at the G8 summit in Edinburgh, with a focus this year on the extent of military spending compared with overseas aid.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said the protest had passed off peacefully and the atmosphere was good-humoured. There were no arrests.

Mr Ritter, who resigned over the issue of weapons of mass destruction, was due to give a lecture at Leeds Civic Hall last night.