PEACE campaigners have revealed plans to stage a rally outside RAF Fairford on American Independence Day.

The event, spearheaded by the Accountability of American Bases organisation, is a direct protest at US military presence in the UK.

Protesters set up camp and staged a number of peace marches during the Iraq War when Fairford was used by B-52 bombers.

They hope their Independence from America Day 'party', on July 4, will help strengthen their cause.

Joint organiser Kate Holcombe, who lives in Evesham, said: "The US uses our country as an unsinkable aircraft carrier.

"We want to know why the US are literally being handed bases.

"On the same day Americans all over the world are celebrating their independence from us, we want to show them how unwelcome their bombers and bomb convoys are in Fairford."

Campaigners are planning to meet up in the main car park, north of the Market Place, at around 3pm.

They will then march through the town centre to the main entrance at Fairford and along the southern perimeter fence.

RAF Fairford spokesman Captain Jake Martinez said: "Members of protest groups in the UK are free citizens and are free to express themselves non-violently as they wish in accordance with UK laws.

"We are grateful to live and work in a country that exercises freedom of speech, and are proud to fight for that freedom. When we see protesters at our front gate, it lets us know that we have done our jobs."

BLOB A Gloucester crown court judge may be asked to decide whether the war with Iraq was legal, during proceedings tomorrow (Friday).

Ten peace activists, who were arrested in a series of incidents at RAF Fairford during the conflict, are due to appear and will claim they had a "lawful excuse" in acting the way they did - committing a crime to prevent a more serious crime.

They are charged with either criminal damage or attempted criminal damage but they claim they were justified because, they say, the war was illegal.