RESIDENTS have slammed plans to build a mobile phone mast near homes.

A planning application to erect a mast above Albert Mill, Wyre Street, Padiham, has been submitted to Burnley Council by Vodafone UK.

But campaigner Dennis Cannon, chairman of the pressure group Together Against Masts (TAM), intends to fight the application and gather the support of local residents.

The application is to erect a 15-metre mast with six antenna and two dishes to be built within a compound.

The group, which held a public meeting at the Kings Arms, Padiham is particularly keen to hear from people living close to mobile telephone masts and any residents who have concerns about the proposals.

Dennis Cannon said: "Our group has two main concerns: Firstly, the insensitive sighting of masts, which we believe is an imposition on people. We believe there are serious potential health hazards from this.

"Secondly, the use of mobile telephones by young people and the way phones are marketed at the young. We think calls should be limited and the marketing should be more responsible."

The group uses an accousticom instrument to measure radiation levels in and around homes.

Mr Cannon said in a lot of cases homes next to phone masts are not directly affected by high levels of radiation, but added: "Some homes up to 450 metres away from the phone masts can be the worst affected.

"There is one site around here where 37 residents live close to a phone mast. Out of those, seven have got cancer and two have died.

"Some people may say it's coincidence but in my opinion the figures are too high for it to be a coincidence."

Granville Lord, former Padiham Mayor, who lives nearby in Victoria Apartments, said: "We have started a petition to fight this proposal.

"We are worried about the health implications. We have heard all kinds of stories from people living near to phone masts but the Government are still sitting on the fence"