VETERAN peace campaigner Ann Lee has failed in her bid to get Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon to court in support of her fight against a criminal damage charge.

Ms Lee, 61, was back in Harrogate Magistrates' Court yesterday for a fourth appearance after denying causing £850 damage to security fencing at the US communications base at Menwith Hill, near the town.

She failed to persuade a district judge to issue a witness summons so Mr Hoon can give evidence at a trial which will begin on November 11 and which is expected to last five days.

Ms Lee, of Otley, West Yorkshire, is an amateur botanist who cares for rare orchids discovered at Menwith Hill.

She insists her defence will be based on lawful excuse. She claims she went to the base to deliver a letter to the director of installations after failing to get satisfactory answers to questions she had raised.

The judge also rejected Ms Lee's application for witness summonses for the installations director, other officials at Menwith Hill and Harrogate Borough Council's head of planning services, Tim Richards.

Ms Lee withdrew a plea for a witness summons to be issued requiring Home Secretary David Blunkett being called to give evidence.

She has lined up fellow peace campaigner Helen John, journalist and television producer Duncan Campbell and veteran Labour left winger Tony Benn to appear on her behalf.