PHONE firm Orange has lost an appeal to place a mast in an area of outstanding natural beauty.

The mobile phone company had hoped to install the mast on land at Grimstone Dairy, Grimstone, near Dorchester and appealed after West Dorset District Council turned down the bid.

Now a Government inspector has dismissed the appeal after considering whether the mast should be erected.

The company had hoped to install a 15-metre mast, with antennae and transmission dishes and an equipment cabin as part of the proposal, which would have provided coverage for Orange phone users along the A37.

But in his decision report Inspector Christopher Jarvis said: "The proposed mast would be very prominent in the open landscape from some public view points.

"It is an unnatural feature and would add materially to the number of masts in this area of outstanding natural beauty - AONB.

"Its construction, especially so close to a similar mast, requires special justification for the harm it would cause to the character and appearance of the AONB."

Mr Jarvis went on to criticise the standard of evidence given by the phone company, particularly as to whether an existing mast at Forston would be able to cover the area.

"Although a silo-style of antenna for this site is mentioned as a possible option by Orange, there is no detail of its size and scope to consider. There is also no clear explanation as to why tree-style antennae would not be feasible.

He said "I find the justification for the proposed mast to be inadequate."

And he added that the proposal conflicts with policies governing phone masts laid out in the Dorset structure plan and the West Dorset local plan.

No one from the phone company was available for comment.