TWO peace campaigning grandmothers were arrested at a US spy base on the day a new Act aimed at terrorism prevention came into force, a court heard today. Helen John, 68, and Sylvia Boyes, 63, were detained at the Menwith Hill base, near Harrogate, on April 1 and charged with trespassing.

John, of Wren Street and Boyes, of Wimborne Drive, both Keighley have pleaded not guilty.

They appeared before District Judge Martin Walker, sitting at Harrogate Magistrates' Court, to be told they faced a three-day trial beginning on January 9.

Each told the judge they were unwilling to indicate the basis of their defence in advance of the trial beginning but prosecutor Mark Haigh said it appeared from the record of police interview with the pair that they were relying on Ministry of Defence Police who arrested them acting beyond their authority because the base was operated by the US authorities.

Both women were bailed until January 9 with Frances Taylor, for John, failing in a bid to have her bail terms altered.

John sought to have a ruling which bans her from going within 100 metres of Menwith Hill reduced to a 10-metre distance so she could attend peaceful demonstrations.