MOBILE phone giant O2 has assured worried residents that the 80ft mast built on Filands Farm is temporary and safe.

The Tetra mast is part the new £1billion Airwave police communication system being installed throughout the country and was put up last Friday.

The Airwave communications network is designed to update the 30-year-old communication system the police currently use. Based on mobile phone technology, it promises better coverage, enabling police to talk across police authority boundaries.

Householders who live near the mast were angry it had been erected without notification or planning permission.

But the company said the move was an emergency decision after Lord Suffolk pulled out of a deal to put the mast on the Charlton Park Estate on May 13. Wiltshire area communications manager for O2, Peter Sitch, said he regretted the action but said there was little that could be done and the mast was temporary. "It will be a matter of months before it is moved," he said. "It is an unfortunate problem which has been forced upon us by the landowner who changed his mind.

"The mast is fully compliant with the National Radio Protection board and radiation levels are hundreds of times below the guidelines."

But some residents were unconvinced by the firm's promise.

Father-of-two Dave Buckley lives 100 yards from the mast. He said: "I am very annoyed that we were not told that this mast would be appearing on our doorstep.

"The district council had not received a planning application when I spoke to them and there has not been a safety risk assessment of the site.

"I spoke to O2 and they said it could be months or it could be years. In my view they will play all the cards they can for as long as they like."

The owner of the land, Eileen Panting, was paid £4,500 to install the mast. She said she was happy that it was safe.

North Wiltshire District Council said the mast would need a planning application, which O2 is in the process of submitting.

Mr Sitch said O2 was in discussion with Wessex Water for permission to place its equipment on the water tower at the north end of Malmesbury but no agreement has yet been reached.