EXTRA information about the "son of Star Wars" project at RAF Fylingdales has been demanded by the local authority, which fears the base could be used to house missile interceptors.

MoD officials have assured the North York Moors National Park Authority that there are no plans to base missile interceptors, or an X-band radar at the station, but the park authority is still unhappy.

Last month, Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon announced that a memorandum of understanding had been signed with the US to upgrade the North Yorkshire radar base.

The statement came before the authority had a chance to submit its views to the MoD, and Mr Hoon was accused by Tory MPs of sneaking the announcement through.

The park authority has now called a meeting to decide how to take its concerns further.

Chief executive Andy Wilson said: "The assurance given by defence minister Dr Lewis Moonie to Lord Judd that there were no current plans for further facilities relating to US missile defence fell very far short of the clear statements about the future of the base that would reassure the authority that the upgrade was not part of a significant new military use.

"The MoD's statement that there are no plans to base missile interceptors or an X-band radar at the base is a step forward - but leaves open the question as to whether such plans are likely to materialise in the future and whether the siting of the current missile defence functions at the base increase that likelihood."

Authority members are now going to press for a meeting to be held with a defence minister to express their concerns directly.

Contractors are expected to start installing new equipment in April, with testing taking place in the summer of 2005.

The old equipment will be removed early in 2006.