NEIGHBOURS living in a picturesque beauty spot with open countryside views today declared war on a telecommunications company which is building a massive mobile phone mast.

And Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans has pledged to do everything he can to prevent the eyesore being erected.

Milton Keynes-based company NTL started work on a near-70ft mast this week to replace the existing 45-footer at Clayton Hey, Clayton-le-Dale.

Mr Evans visited the site and meet angry residents Barbara Macintosh and Tony Livesey, whose homes overlook the mast site. He said: "There is already a mast here which the residents objected to in the first place. To build one 22ft higher will just add insult to injury. It will affect everyone around this area and their view.

"I'm disgusted that these people seem to have been ignored and I will be trying to find any loophole I can to help them stop this work."

Mrs Macintosh said residents wrote to the council about the plans, and thought they had been dropped until workmen moved in.

She said: "I know that when you buy a house you do not necessarily buy the view but you don't expect to have that stuck right in front of you either."

Mr Livesey, who owns the land, said he had given permission for the original mast but had not been consulted about the new work. He added: "The one that is there at the moment is not too bad but they are taking that down to build another one 22ft higher. They haven't asked me about at all."

Mr Livesey is also annoyed because he has been refused permission to convert a nearby barn into a house because planners felt it would be detrimental to the landscape.

Mr Evans added: "It's absolutely ridiculous and reeks of double standards. It seems the council are bowing to the muscle of big companies while ruling the local people with a rod of steel."

Chief planning officer Stewart Bailey said different developments were decided according to different policies and objections were considered when the application was passed.

He said there were clear guidance at national level, adding: "Generally speaking local authorities are expected to support these things despite local concern. It is not practical to mix and match different policies for planning permission relating to telecommunication masts and the conversion of barns."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.