UNTIL recently, there was a peace camp outside the secret US spy base at Menwith Hill, where veterans of Greenham Common gathered to alert the world to global domination by the US military.

Few really bothered to listen to what they were saying.

But perhaps the hardy handful - finally evicted by North Yorkshire County Council from their ramshackle caravans outside the base in 1999 - will now be taking some satisfaction from the events of the last 48 hours.

Now, at least, it seems the world is listening.

On Tuesday, it was Greenpeace that took the initiative, with more than 100 supporters entering the base near Harrogate at three different points.

Yesterday, questions were asked in the Commons about why "a bunch of hippies" found it so easy to get into such a highly-sensitive base, earmarked for a role in the new space-based missile defence programme.

But, in truth, this was neither a shambolic nor a spontaneous act of civil disobedience.

It was a well coordinated operation by a sizeable group of people, united in a belief that the Star Wars project George W Bush has been selling as a defence network for the West is actually a threat to world peace and one which could spark another arms race.

Some significance should also be given to the amount of public support the demonstrators have been receiving from the wider public.

Andy Tait coordinates Greenpeace's Son of Star Wars protests in the UK and was among the raiding parties which crossed the wire.

He makes the point that chained to the roof of one building with him were a computer programmer, a broadcaster and a local government worker.

"These are all dedicated people of different ages and from different backgrounds, willing to take direct, but peaceful action," he said.

CND joined the demonstration yesterday, a small convoy making its way to the Fylingdales early-warning station on the North York Moors, also a potential part of the defence shield programme.

But last night, the national focus was back on Al Baker from Scotland and and Richard Watson from Burnley, perched precariously on top of a transmitter at Menwith Hill.

They were the last Greenpeace demonstrators still on the base - it remains to be seen if they will be the last.