A protest against a proposed mobile phone mast in Warndon has been hailed a "great success" by the people who turned out.

Around 80 residents armed with banners and balloons assembled on the roundabout at the junction of Woodgreen Drive and Dugdale Drive, near Worcestershire Royal Hospital on Sunday.

They were supporting the Warndon Phone Mast Committee in its fight against a 33ft aerial for phone firm O2 which has received planning permission to be built there.

Grant Hughes of Hingley Avenue, who is spearheading the campaign, said residents were not against phone masts in principle, but felt an alternative site further away from homes was more appropriate.

"We had many motorists tooting horns and putting their thumbs up to us on the day," he said.

"There are now a growing number of phone masts in our locality. With other phone companies wanting to jump on the bandwagon, how many more will be put up?

"And how much constant bombardment of high- and low-frequency waves can a body take?"

He added the committee now intends to get Worcester MP Michael Foster to push for a meeting with O2 to discuss alternative mast sites and alternatives to phone masts - such as microcells.

"We will fight on," he said.

The mast was granted permission by Worcester City Council in July despite 50 letters of objection and an 84-strong petition.

Principal planning officer Paul O'Connor said there was no hard evidence of adverse health effects.