A North Yorkshire MP has attacked the Government for allowing US ballistic missile defence equipment to be housed at the county's RAF Menwith Hill base.

Phil Willis has co-sponsored a motion in the House of Commons, calling for a full and open debate on the issue.

He said: "Tony Blair had promised an open debate and now Gordon Brown has decided to make the decision behind closed doors and announced it quietly rather than telling MPs directly.

"The people of Harrogate and Knaresborough his constituency deserve to be considered when making this decision and their feelings represented in an open debate."

On Saturday, about 100 protesters took part in a demonstration at the base. Among them were York's two Green Party councillors Andy D'Agorne and Dave Taylor.