PEOPLE do not trust the United States over its Star Wars missile defence system, a poll commissioned by the Yorkshire branch of CND has indicated.

An official ICM opinion poll requested by the branch suggests opposition to space weapons and a lack of trust in US pronouncements on Son of Star Wars.

ICM polled 1,008 people of different age groups across the country asking them questions, including whether countries wanted to use space to gain a military advantage, whether the world would be a more dangerous place if weapons were put into space, and whether America would defend its allies with a missile defence system.

Seventy-two per cent of respondents (64 per cent in Yorkshire and Humber) said the world would be more dangerous if weapons were placed in space, while 56 per cent of people (48 per cent in Yorkshire) said they did not believe that the United States would use a missile defence system to protect its allies.

Yorkshire CND says the figures show huge opposition to the missile programme, which will see the North Yorkshire spy base at Menwith Hill and missile tracking system at RAF Fylingdales used.

Critics have claimed the decision makes North Yorkshire a potential terrorist target. Protesters will be demonstrating at Menwith Hill on Saturday.

The poll figures have been released during the international Keep Space For Peace Week, which, last Saturday, saw Radiohead rock star Thom Yorke join protesters at RAF Fylingdales. It was funded thanks to a grant by the York-based Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust, which gives cash to political and campaigning groups.

Neil Kingsnorth, CND spokesman, said: "The United States administration plans to put weapons in space, dominate space and fight in and from space. There is no doubting that. They have said it themselves time and time again. What's more, they plan to use their Missile Defence system as an excuse to achieve it.

"These results show clearly that the British people think the idea of a new battlefield in space is a step too far, and we expect the British Government to respond by declaring its opposition to space weapons and by pushing hard to achieve a treaty banning them for good."

See also: recent poll results from US and Canada