The name Greenham Common is synonymous to the resistance against nuclear weapons

Greenham fund spokeswoman

The Greenham Common Women's Peace Camp was set up in September 1981 after 36 women marched for 10 days from their south Wales homes to the Berkshire airbase in protest against US plans to store Cruise missiles at the site.

A total of 96 missiles were eventually housed there and the protesters have been at Greenham Common ever since.

But on Tuesday - exactly 19 years since the famous protest began - the last caravan will leave the site once and for all.

The women kept up a continuous presence for 19 years

The women will mark their departure with a day-long picnic, and they are eventually hoping to bury a time capsule at the site.

The last of the missiles was flown back to the US in 1991, but the protesters remained at the site to ensure it was handed back to the people.

In April the wire fences surrounding the base were symbolically removed and the site has now been returned to common land.

Reminder

A Commemorative Fund Appeal Collective is raising money to build a memorial on the site, which will include a ring of Welsh stones, and a special garden.

Non-violent demonstration was used

Fund spokeswoman Sarah Hipperson said: "I'm glad we can leave on a positive note and I feel this next stage is also historically important.

"We need to leave something there that will be a reminder to all peace-loving people. The name Greenham Common is synonymous to the resistance against nuclear weapons."

Greenham Common was originally requisitioned for use as an air base in 1941 and from 1968 onwards was occupied by the US Air Force.

The site was eventually sold to the Greenham Common Trust in 1997 and much of the land was then passed back to the local council for just �1.