A MAN died today after he was struck by a Ministry of Defence police car near a spy base.

North Yorkshire Police said the man, who has not yet been identified, was lying on the B6541 road which runs alongside Menwith Hill, near Harrogate, at about 2.20am, when he was struck by the vehicle.

It is not yet known how he came to be lying in the road, but he is not thought to be part of the long-running peace protests at the base.

The man, in his 20s, was taken to Harrogate District Hospital with severe injuries but was pronounced dead two hours later. The driver of the MoD car was shocked but not injured.

Updated : 15:45, Monday 13th Aug.