A couple from Upper Colwall are facing a legal bill for more than £500,000 after losing a battle against a mobile phone mast they claim has ruined their lives.

Agnes Ingvarsdottir and Eirikur Petursson say they began suffering from health problems when a 3G mast was installed on a restaurant roof opposite their previous home in Worcester in August 2003.

"We couldn't sleep and I had infections. We've always been very healthy people but I got gum infections, my teeth started falling out and I had continuous chest infections," said Mrs Ingvarsdottir.

With their son, Neils Eiriksson, the couple ran their dust extraction and filtering firm from home, but were forced to move the business to Hanley Swan when they all became ill.

After they lost a legal battle to have the mast removed, they were ordered to pay mobile phone company Hutchinson 3G costs of £407,398.06.

Mr Petursson said the amount was incomprehensible.

"We've lost everything we own and have saved up paying for solicitors," he said.

Taking legal action to have the mast removed has also cost the couple more than £130,000 in solicitor's fees and lost work.

As their claim was used as a test case, its result could affect other people suing mobile phone companies on health grounds.

The couple sold their Worcester house and moved to Upper Colwall in February 2004.

They are now worried similar masts in the local area could damage people's health.

"It totally ruined our life and the quicker we can stop them from ruining everybody else's life, the better," said Mrs Ingvarsdottir, who has started a website campaigning against masts. "I'm not against mobile phones, I just don't want them in close proximity to residents and schools."