THE mobile telephone company One 2 One has been accused of "blackmail" in its latest bid to put a mast on a Worcestershire hillside.

The firm has applied again for a mast at Tinkers Coppice, a site of special scientific interest near Martley, after being rejected last autumn.

Protesters fear wildlife such as slow-worms will be harmed and the countryside blighted.

Malvern Hills district councillors threw out the plans last year on the basis that the proposed access road was dangerous.

One 2 One now wants to use an old farm track leading to the coppice about 75 yards downhill.

"Highway visibility at this access is as bad as the one rejected by the council," complained Suzy Adams, who lives on the other side of the B4197.

One 2 One wants a 50ft pole mast, with a 6ft 6in antenna on top.

The company's property manager Derek Blatt wrote to residents saying the mast was preferable to the alternative - a "lattice" tower.

The letter also claimed that the company already had permission for the lattice tower.

"Hopefully consent will be granted to enable us to progress matters and avoid a situation where we could be forced to build the lattice tower if we cannot obtain consent," he said.

His letter angered Janet Martin, of Collins Green.

"One 2 One's effectively tried to blackmail and bully us, by saying that if we didn't agree to their new proposal they would be 'forced' to build the lattice tower," she said.

A spokesman for One 2 One said the pole design "made sense", as it would have less visual impact.

"And the access road would only be used a couple of times a year by maintenance vehicles," he said.

But area planning officer Ros Field said One 2 One did not have planning permission for a lattice tower, contrary to the company's claims.

The application for the mast was likely to go to committee on Wednesday, October 11, she added.