WORRIED Tavistock residents have launched a campaign to protest against a plan to upgrade a mobile phone mast near their homes.

The existing Orange telephone mast is situated at Buddle Quarry ? within 250 metres of more than 100 houses.

John Reynolds and David Farrant, who both live close by, are spearheading the campaign to object to the proposal.

Mr Reynolds said: ?We have distributed 111 letters and everyone I have spoken to has been very supportive.?

Mr Reynolds said the upgrading would not make any difference to the visible appearance of the mast ? but the transmissions would be of different frequencies, which he feared could bring increased health hazards.

?I don?t think anybody really knows the dangers ? but the point is, if they wanted to do this within 250 metres of a school, they wouldn?t be allowed to,? said Mr Reynolds.

David Farrant said the existing mast at Buddle Quarry had been erected some time ago, before planning permission was required. He said he was very concerned that more powerful equipment should be installed close to a residential area.

?Children are at home eight times as long as they are at school. The Government is still out on the technology of this, in that it could be injurious to developing brains ? we feel that such a serious matter should be debated fully by the planning committee.?

Mr Farrant said people living in the area near the quarry had been keen to support further debate on the matter.

?Without exception, everyone we spoke to has been very supportive, especially those with children, and those that hadn?t received a letter from the planning department were quite cross as well.?

Cllr Roy Connelly, borough ward member for the north of Tavistock, said there was a lot of conflicting information regarding transmissions emitted by telephone masts which were worrying to people.

?This sort of thing needs to be open and transparent and not delegated to a planning officer to decide,? said Cllr Connelly.

A spokesman for West Devon Borough Council said: ?The application by Orange is to upgrade the site from 2G to 3G. They want to upgrade the antennae, so they are not changing the mast, just the antennae and cabins.?

The spokesman said the application would be considered by the council?s telecommunications panel, which meets on August 5. It was not a public meeting, said the spokesman.

Members of the public have until August 10 to submit objections or letters of support in relation to the application.

A spokesman for Orange said there was no established medical evidence linking mobile phone technology with human ill health.

He said the upgrade would provide a faster service for mobile phone users in the Tavistock area, in the same way that Broadband speeded up internet access, and Orange was committed to providing customers with the best level of service possible.

?The transmitters used for 3G are actually much less powerful than the old ones,? he added.