PROTESTERS took direct action when a crane arrived to install three mobile phone masts on their office block -- they surrounded the vehicle and refused to budge.

Yesterday's stand-off lasted all day and successfully prevented the controversial work to place equipment on the roof of the Benefits Agency at Brun House, Burnley, which employs people from Blackburn, Accrington and Burnley.

The work can be carried out only at weekends when the building is empty, and the protesters were prepared.

Seven protesting workers were on the site from 4.30am on Saturday in case contractors turned up then.

They were waiting again yesterday from 5.20am and when the crane arrived and the railings were unlocked, they all followed the vehicle in.

Staff from the Agency's office in Blackburn have signed a petition in support of their Burnley colleagues.

Julie Ellison, 30, from Burnley, a Benefits Agency administration assistant, said: "We have sent in a petition with 190 names on it from Benefits Agency staff and from people in the Tax Office and Sainsbury's, who will soon be opening up their supermarket nearby, but BT Cellnet will not listen to us.

"We feel we have no choice but to take direct action and we will not be moving."

Julie was joined inside the compound by fellow administration officer Tracy Kirrage, 30, from Barnoldswick, and two other female colleagues who did not want to be identified.

Outside they were supported by a crowd of colleagues who provided food and moral support.

They arranged to have a portable toilet delivered so they would not have to leave the compound and came armed with deck chairs, umbrellas and flasks.

Julie said: "While we are trapped in the compound the company can't carry out the work because it is against Health and Safety Regulations."

One of her colleagues said: "At the end of the day we do not know what is going to happen in years to come from equipment like this and we feel strongly about it.

"We do not feel the company has kept us properly informed about what it planned to do and this has all been sprung on us."

The protesters say they are also concerned about the mast's proximity to St Peter's School and Le Monde Petit Nursery School.

Brun House is owned by the Department of the Environment but leased by London-based Trillium, who have arranged to have the masts installed.

The protesters did admit to having a mobile phone between them but Julie said: "It is a matter of personal choice to have a mobile, but you don't choose to work underneath a mast.

"There is no problem with the reception in this area so why do we need another mast?"

No-one from the contractors was available to comment.

Police Sergeant Chris Bithell said: "We were called to the protest but it was on a private car park and it was peaceful.We would only be called back should there be a breach of the peace."