RESIDENTS have been left devastated after a mobile phone giant won permission on appeal to install a mast in woods on their door step.

The Secretary of State ruled in favour of BT Cellnet's application to install a 22.5-metre mast at Cannon Hill plantation in Colehill.

The mast will be just 350 metres from Colehill First School and 160 metres from homes.

It will be the second tower to be erected in the woods after Mercury One2One installed a similar mast in 1999. The two towers will be just metres apart.

In both cases hundreds of residents backed by their local councillors signed petitions, wrote letters and demonstrated against the applications.

After the BT Cellnet application was turned down by East Dorset planning committee going against officer recommendations, residents had hoped they had put a stop to the mobile phone companies.

District councillor Janet Dover said: "This is a very sad day for Colehill and for the residents of Colehill. I share their disappointment after their tireless campaign to prevent this second mast.

"This one is even closer to the school than the first and we have been given no assurance in the documentation, as far as I can see, that this could not happen again.

"Obviously we have got a good site on the hill for the companies to put their masts and it seems that is agreed by the Secretary of State who has given little regard to health concerns."

Mike Hirsh, assistant planning director at East Dorset council, said: "The planning committee felt strongly that they should refuse the application because of the concerns expressed by members of the public over health risk issues but the inspector has followed the clear government advice on this matter and has therefore granted the permission."

Jim Stephenson, of BT Cellnet, said: "It is very expensive for us to go through the planning process and appeal process but in order for us to maintain the quality of our network in the Dorset area, this site was important.

"This will ensure the network for BT's 11 million customers and future customers."