WORCESTERSHIRE County Council is to review its policy on the erection of mobile phone masts on land and buildings it owns.

The decision comes after Wyre Forest district councillors called for the county council to look at the issue following the placing of controversial masts in the district.

Jill Fairbrother Millis, who sits on both the district and county councils, said: "I am pleased that the county council, as a significant land owner, will now look at formulating a policy on allowing mobile phone masts on to its land and buildings.

"The proposed scrutiny exercise will enable the health risks and people's fears to be fully aired."

Councillor Stephen Clee, the county council's cabinet member for corporate services, said: "We should not get carried away with this but it is right that we have a corporate policy. If we take this to scrutiny, we can get a clearer view.

"We should bear in mind the fears of our residents over health and we should also take into consideration any cluster sites where there are a number of masts."

A district council scrutiny committee, which is looking at several issues involved with the erection of masts, including health implications and residents' concerns, is already in progress.

Councillor Fran Oborski, who chairs the meetings, said she hoped the findings of the exercise would be published before Christmas.