RESIDENTS are tomorrow due to protest against a mobile phone mast planned near their homes - and they have formed an action group to show how strongly they feel about it.

The Warndon Phone Mast Committee opposes a 33ft O2 aerial that has received planning permission to be put up near the roundabout at the junction of Woodgreen Drive and Dugdale Drive, not far from Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

The committee is hoping as many people as possible will assemble on the roundabout tomorrow between 11.30am and 12.30pm to show the level of dissatisfaction.

The campaign has been spearheaded by Warndon Villages resident Grant Hughes, who lives in Hingley Avenue. There are eight members on the committee, including an electronics expert and chartered engineers.

He said: "When the Warndon Villages estate was built, it was an award-winning design and we all continue to look after our gardens and keep things neat and tidy. But this mast is going to stick out like a sore thumb.

"None of us is against mobile phones in principle and we realise that masts have to be put up to provide a good signal. But we do feel there are alternative sites further away from people's homes."

Mr Hughes, who has a one-year-old child, said the committee was worried about the effect masts could have on young people's health.

He said there were also concerns about the aesthetic impact and the effect the mast could have on house prices.

"Unfortunately, this mast could go up any day now, and we all feel pretty miffed and let down, but we will continue to protest."

Despite 50 letters and a petition signed by 84 people, permission for the mast was granted by the planning committee of Worcester City Council in July.

Principal planning officer Paul O'Connor said the latest advice from the experts showed there was not hard evidence of adverse health effects.