ALDBOURNE residents are objecting to plans for a telecommunications mast because of safety fears.

Crown Castle International want to erect three antennas for Orange mobile phones and a small microwave dish on the site of an existing mast at Stock Lane, within metres of homes and not far from St Michael's Primary School.

The application will be decided at next Thursday's meeting of Kennet council's regulatory committee. It is recommended for approval, despite a dozen or so letters of objection from local people.

Resident, Brian Holbrow, 67, who lives 200 metres from the site, said: "It is an eyesore and a health hazard. Already someone living close to the mast has gone down with thyroid cancer and someone else developed a cancer on their ear."