VILLAGERS have united to protest against a proposed mobile phone mast at Hapton.

The parish council has got hundreds of signatures on a petition which will be going to Burnley Council planners.

Parish councillor Pat Jones said: "We have only just found out about this plan by One-to-One. It will be near the motorway and the village and the whole school will get the full force of it. These things are so dangerous even the guys who put them up have to wear protective clothing, so what are the microwaves going to do to people in the village?

"In just a few days we got more than 200 names on the petition and copies are available to be signed in the post office and the local grocer's shop. I am urging residents who are concerned to write in and voice their objections to the town hall."

The plan is for a 10m pole with three antennae and a microwave dish on the motorway bridge.

The plan does not necessarily have to go before councillors -- it could be approved by officers using delegated powers.

Any objections have to be made to the council by January 15.