UNDERFIRE councillors are to set up their own inquiry in a bid to force a change in the law over mobile telephone masts.

The move by Hyndburn council has come after a series of decisions allowing telecommunications poles to be erected across the borough prompted outrage from residents.

Legislation currently states that the only grounds for turning down a mast are if it would seriously affect the appearance of an area and councillors are frustrated at criticism for approving masts they can do nothing to prevent.

They believe the government should order more research into health fears surrounding the masts and are launching a panel to look at ways of pressuring the Government to change the rules.

Councillor John Griffiths, chairman of the development services committee, said: "This is something we must do. It is very difficult because at the moment we have to obey the law even though we are not in agreement with it.

"It is about time the government started listening to the people and came up with a more acceptable solution. It is up to the Labour Government now.

"And I hope that when Greg Pope talked to the people of Knuzden he explained to them that it is the Labour Government that is responsible for the Planning Policy Guidance that we as a planning committee must adhere to.

"He should shoulder the responsibility of taking residents concerns back to the appropriate government body. We are not in agreement with it but our hands are tied."

At a recent development services meeting angry residents from Knuzden -- where a 50ft BT Cellnet mast is to be put up -- turned up expecting to have their say and left furious because they could not.

David Darcy, of Haslingden Old Road, said: "We have been gagged. We have no say and that is why people lose faith in democracy."

Members of the development services committee sympathised with the residents but reiterated that the problem was out of their control.

Coun Tim O'Kane said: "The residents at the development services committee meeting on September 12 felt their voice wasn't being heard. We should definitely look at a scrutiny committee for mobile telephone masts."

Coun Winifred Frankland added: "Residents don't seem to realise that our hands are completely tied. It makes us look like devils which we are not."

On average, one new proposal for a mobile telephone mast goes before Hyndburn Council every month and only two have been refused to date. One was for a mast to be located in close proximity to Huncoat's war memorial and the second to be in an open landscaped beauty spot in Baxenden.

But a second application for the Baxenden site was later accepted when Orange Telecommunications proposed to use a mast disguised as a Scots Pine tree which would blend into the scenery.

Hyndburn Council leader Peter Britcliffe has also put his support behind the plan for a new scrutiny committee on mobile telephone masts. He said: "I have grave concerns and would vote against them if I could but there seems to be very little we can do unless the mobile telephone mast is on our own land.

"We do need clearer guidance from the government and clearer rules which we, as an authority, can follow. We need to make approaches to the government as to what stands we can take as an authority."