A MOBILE phone mast has been put up in a village near Droitwich without planning permission or consultation.

The Vodafone third generation (3G) mast appeared - to villagers' amazement - in a private field in Salwarpe.

But residents say they are outraged that the communications giant has no planning permission for the transmitter and that it failed to let anyone know it was erecting the mast last week.

"I have received many letters from residents who are very angry about this," said Wychavon councillor, Andrew Christian-Brookes.

"If a member of the public builds a house without permission, Wychavon District Council would use the law to stop them and force them to take it down.

"No resident could build a house and then say 'it's OK, we will come back in six months with a planning application'.

"There cannot be a rule for one, and one for another. Vodafone must stick to rules like everyone else."

Villagers had at first believed that farm building work was going on but then a 50ft mast appeared.

Mr Christian-Brookes said that he and residents would now be officially objecting to the mast and hoped that legal action would be taken against Vodafone.

Principal area planning officer for Wychavon, Mike Hurst, confirmed the council had received a letter from Vodafone asking for planners' views on a possible mast but that no permission had been granted.

"We are aware of the mast. Vodafone has jumped the gun and we are now investigating the situation," he said.

A spokesman for Vodafone said the antenna was only a temporary structure but said the company would be applying for planning permission for a permanent mast to be put up somewhere on the site.

"The mast is in a rural area and tall trees around the area minimise its visual impact," said the spokeswoman.

Farmer and owner of the land, Mike Davis, said he did not wish to comment on the issue.