A US military base in Yorkshire was targeted for protests today as part of an international day of action against foreign military bases.

The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) said that the world’s military powers, particularly the US, operate more than 1,000 bases worldwide, often outside the control of the countries which host them.

Menwith Hill, a sprawling development on the North York Moors outside Harrogate, is one of a network of high-tech US bases spread around the world, gathering military, political and economic information relayed to it by information-gathering satellites.

The base is identified by huge domes housing antennae and equipment which relays information to the Pentagon.

It is nominally a Royal Air Force base but is occupied by around 1,000 US military and civilian personnel.

The international day of protest was organised “to show solidarity and opposition around the world” to the activities of foreign military bases.

In Yorkshire, the protest was organised by the Menwith Hill Accountability Campaign (MHAC) and Yorkshire CND.

MHAC co-ordinator Sarah Swift said: “Menwith Hill provides information for the targeting of drones which kill innocent civilians.

“It is involved in missile defence, ramping up the possibility of an accidental nuclear war. It was involved in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“The United States objects to surveillance of its own citizens, yet Menwith Hill is enabling surveillance of civilians across the world.”

The base has been targeted by peace campaigners calling for its closure for more than 40 years.

Members of Parliament have been refused access to the base, which is guarded by the Ministry of Defence Police.