ANGRY Barrowford residents are determined to have a say over plans to put a telephone mast near their homes.

People living near Albert Mill in Factory Lane are furious the mast, which is being put on land owned by Standal Dawman, does not need planning permission because of its height.

Now more than 400 people have signed a petition against a mobile phone mast. And a campaign group called Barrowford Against Residential Masts has also been formed.

Presenting the petition to Mayor of Pendle Coun Dorothy Lord at a council meeting, Pasture Lane resident Susan Nike said: "We are presenting this petition to Pendle Council on behalf of people who live, work and visit Barrowford.

"Information about this proposed mobile phone mast has been found out firstly by the accidental release of the application to the local press, then by a letter from the planning department stating that it was not permitted development, only to be then told that this was wrong and it was.

"Then there was a further letter saying it was to be reported to the Barrowford Area Committee and this was a mistake. This is either incompetence or maladministration.

"Under the Children's Act local authorities have a duty to protect children from harm.

"No consultation has taken place either with local schools or parents as required under recent guidelines to local planning authorities."

Pendle councillors held a debate on phone masts and called for more power to decide where they went.

Councillors from all parties said they were horrified they had no control over the siting of mobile phone masts and said companies should share masts to cut the number needed.

Coun Tony Beckett called for the council to draw up its own planning policy on masts and the authority's officer said they would find out if that was legal.

Meanwhile, Pendle Council is to lobby MP Gordon Prentice to back a Private Members Bill calling for councils to take health concerns into account and prohibit masts unless they have planning permission.