DETECTIVES are still investigating an attack on a protester at US intelligence-gathering base Menwith Hill, a month after the victim was deliberately mowed down by a car, it was revealed yesterday.

Quaker Barbara Penny suffered a broken foot and a head injury and spent several days in hospital after being hit by the car driven by a US civilian coming out of the base during a weekly vigil.

Ministry of Defence police are still looking into the incident, which took place last month.

Eyewitness Lindis Percy, a veteran peace campaigner and one of the organisers of the vigils, said the perpetrator was not arrested and was allowed to go on holiday shortly after the incident.

Ms Percy was standing with the victim outside one of the base’s gates holding a placard.

She told the Morning Star: “We are always vigilant because some of the drivers clearly don’t like us being there. Two cars came out very slowly. I was wearing a reflector jacket and holding a white placard with the words: ‘Whistle-blowers urgently needed,’ and an upside-down US flag.

“Barbara was also holding a white placard. We stood for a very short time to let them read and then stood to one side.

“Another car came out and, instead of stopping, he kept coming at us. I was close enough to touch the bonnet and put my hand up to try to indicate him to stop.

“It all happened so quickly. Somehow I managed to avoid the car — I really don’t know how. There was a moment when I thought I was going to be knocked backwards and go under the wheels of the car.

“There was a woman passenger and I remember her looking horrified as the driver was clearly not going to stop.

“I then heard Barbara let out several piercing screams. l didn’t know where she was and then realised she had been knocked over.

“Barbara kept saying: ‘He’s run over my foot.’ She was on the ground — she had hit her head as she was knocked down. She was clearly in a lot of pain.”

Ms Percy, a retired nurse, treated her friend until the arrival of an ambulance.

The driver stopped but police did not arrest him or take a statement.