A huge top secret radar station which is set to be part of George Bush's ''Stars Wars'' missile defence programme poses no cancer threat to the public, according to a new study.

The Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale Primary Care Trust (PCT) commissioned research after a senior US Air Force scientist said he would not buy a house near RAF Fylingdales, on the North York Moors, because its radiation could pose a serious health risk.

Dr Richard Albanese told a BBC documentary he feared Phased Array Radiation from the radar may have carcinogenic properties that science has yet to understand.

Dr Albanese's raised his concerns as the role of RAF Fylingdales was set to be expanded under the ''Star Wars'' plans.

The scientist said he based his fears on an investigation at an almost identical base on Cape Cod in the US where an unexplained cluster of rare cancers has been found in the community.

But Dr Jeffrie Strang (correct), Director of Public Health and Medical Director for the PCT said the analysis found no significant difference in the pattern of cancer occurrences from 1991 and 1999 between the trust area and the Northern and Yorkshire Region as a whole.

Dr Strang told the trust board: ''I am pleased to be able to state that this retrospective study does not provide evidence of a link between RAF Fylingdales and cancer registrations.

''The biggest risks to health currently affecting the people of Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale come from tobacco use, eating the wrong foods and physical inactivity''.

The study compared cancer registrations in a group of wards around RAF Fylingdales with Scarborough Town, with the trust area as a whole and with the Northern and Yorkshire Region between 1991 and 1999.

Dr Strang said currently available epidemiological research evidence does not support fears that there is a harmful effect to the public from low radio frequency radiation.

While the study was being carried out both the North York Moors National Park Authority and Ryedale District Council called for long-term monitoring of the impact of RAF Fylingdales on the health of the local population.