OUTRAGED residents in Rockhill have called for an urgent meeting after work began to extend a telephone mast on neighbouring land.

Horrified householders could only watch as work, began last Monday to enlarge the base of the transmitter mast, which stands on East Lodge farm.

Residents have received no notification of the extension plans, which have been submitted by Orange.

The mobile phone giant has recently let part of the mast to One to One, another leading phone company.

The base is 33sq metres with 11 antennas, however it is to be extended to approximately 150sq metres with four more antennas.

It also stands 21 metres tall, which committee member Alan King, whose Parkstone Avenue house is "within feet" of the it, claims it is seven metres over the legal allowances.

Mr King distributed flyers to all residents on Monday and is holding an urgent meeting at his house tonight, Wednesday November 7.

He said: "We are very disappointed as we would have liked to have receive some consultation on the plans.

"The sight is now an eyesore and clearly visible as you approach the front of the house, reducing the house value substantially.

"Bromsgrove District Council assures me that the works are within the guidelines set out in the General Permitted Development Act-Section 24, and there is absolutely nothing we can do to stop it.

"A number of residents disagree with this point of view and are not willing to let the mobile phone company walk all over them without a fight."

The meeting is being held at 16, Parkstone Avenue at 8pm.

For more information, contact Alan on (01527) 578180 or Chris Bibby on (01527) 835454.