VETERAN peace activists Anne Lee and Helen John will appear in court at Harrogate today after breaking into the US spy base at Menwith Hill, north Yorkshire, in June.

Ms John and Ms Lee are charged with criminal damage. A third protester, Angie Zeiter, has entered her plea by post. A trial date will be set later today.

Campaigners want to highlight Menwith Hill's role in the controversial US National Missile Defence system.

Ms John said: "At the weekend, $100 million were wasted on testing this sytem while new figures show Britain and the US near the bottom of the table on child poverty."

See Yorkshire CND Menwith Hill website