OPPOSITION to the siting of a mobile phone mast in the heart of a Bromsgrove housing estate gathered momentum after news of the plan was exclusively reported in last week's Advertiser/Messenger.

A petition calling on Bromsgrove District Council's planning committee to throw out an application by phone company One 2 One for the base station on land near St Andrew's Church, in Charford, was launched yesterday.

Kevin McNamara, who chairs the Multi Agency Resource Centre, in Humphrey Avenue, where residents can sign it, said he and his wife, Lesley, a Labour councillor for Charford, have received a great many calls from worried residents.

"Feelings are running pretty high, people are very concerned about the possible harmful effects on health," he said.

Margaret Troth, a great-grandmother, from nearby Grafton Crescent, said she was "very angry" after reading the report.

"The church is used a lot by youngsters both during the day and in the evening. In summer they play on the grassed area near the church where they propose to site it. I'm very concerned for their safety."

She said on Friday, the district council delivered notices to residents near the church detailing the proposals and pointing out they have 21 days to lodge objections.

One 2 One, based in Hertfordshire, claims the base station is necessary to expand its ever-growing network to keep pace with customer demand.

Regarding health and safety it claims all its stations operate within strict national and international guidelines and is satisfied they do not pose a threat to the public.

Anyone unable to get to the resource centre can ring (01527) 874880 for the petition to be sent to their homes.