LITTLETON parish councillors are at loggerheads with BT after the telephone company erected a telegraph pole on the village green without warning.

BT claims the telegraph pole, which was put up in North Littleton almost three weeks ago, was necessary to comply with health and safety regulations. But members of Middle and North Littleton Parish Council are outraged and have demanded the company remove the pole within two weeks.

Chairman Councillor Colin Emms said: "I saw the workman putting the pole up on the Sunday and I asked if he had permission - he said he didn't need it. It is in an awful position on the village green and doesn't look very nice. When I tried to ring BT I couldn't get any help.

"Now you look across the green and the pole blocks people's view - to put it right bang in the middle is not right and it's just bad manners, apart from anything else. We are upset at BT's lack of common courtesy at the very least and we want to know on what grounds they have done this."

BT spokesman Paul Dorrell said health and safety laws stated any cable running across a highway must reached a minimum height of 5.6 metres. BT does have statutory rights under the Telecom Act 1984 allowing maintenance work to be carried out in order to provide telephone services.

Mr Dorrell added: "This cable was beginning to sag and for health and safety reasons it was necessary to raise it.

"If the parish council has written to BT their concerns will be addressed and we will talk to them." He added it was not usual to give advance warning about such work being carried out.