A FOREST of unsightly and potentially hazardous mobile telephone masts could be sprouting up across the New Forest as operators rush to beat the restrictions national park status would bring.

That's the fear of campaigners John and Renate Morley after the One 2 One network lodged applications with New Forest district council for permission to set up antennae and microwave dishes on poles up to 25 metres (82 feet) high at eight locations in the Beaulieu, Burley and Brockenhurst areas.

And the same firm is also bidding to put up four similar masts in downland villages around Fordingbridge.

In a letter to New Forest development control chief Chris Elliott, Mr Morley, who campaigned against more mobile phone aerials on the water tower near his home in Tuckton, said he was shocked and upset by the number of mast applications in the forest.

"We are afraid that the operators will not accept the highest degree of protection or they will move so fast and erect all the necessary communications masts before the draft boundary can be enforced by law and turned into a national park," he wrote. Mr Morley dismissed the government argument that the level of radiation from mobile phone transmitters was below accepted limits and the dangers to public health had not been scientifically proved.

He said: "This is exactly the same secretive and negative attitude as the government has taken on new variant form CJD and now look what is happening."

"Electro-magnetic radiation pollution and damage could well be the next health crisis."

"Microwave radiation has a long-term deleterious effect on people's health and in the case of the New Forest a serious effect on the wildlife of this unique and beautiful location."

And he urged New Forest planners: "Please act now and act fast before you allow the New Forest to become an electro-magnetic radiated area.

Planning officer Christine McNulty said the council had asked mobile phone operators to submit their mast requirements en bloc rather than one by one. Each application would be closely checked.

She explained the phone companies had a duty under their licences from the government to provide full signal coverage and there were still large pockets of the New Forest without signal cover.

And although the health risk issue was a material consideration it was not a valid reason to refuse applications for new masts.

"That's not to say we will give permission for every mast; if we consider the sensitivity of the landscape should come first, we will refuse," she said.