FAMILIES fear their children's health with be put at risk by plans to put three mobile phone masts near their homes.

They braved torrential rain to make their objections clear to town councillors that they are vehemently opposed to the installation of the masts on the roof of the telephone exchange, yards from their Marlborough homes.

They say they do not want their health and the health of their children put in jeopardy just to make it easier to transmit over the airwaves.

The telecommunications firm Hutchinson 3G is seeking planning permission to site three masts on the roof of the exchange in Lower Prospect, off Blowhorn Street.

The transmitters will serve the third generation of mobile phones, for which Hutchinson paid more than £4 billion for the licence, one of five companies to launch successful bids.

More than 20 residents stood in the rain on Monday evening while Peter Hussey, of Alexandra Terrace, explained to four town councillors Graham Francis, Bill Cavill, Marian Hannaford and Bryan Castle why the residents are so angry about the plans.

Mr Hussey, a teacher at Pewsey Vale School, said as well as being a blot on the landscape in an area of outstanding natural beauty, the masts would emit pulses of microwave radiation that have been linked with cancer.

He said: "These masts will emit microwaves that are about the same frequency as those put out by microwave ovens, but all the time. But, worse than that, the microwaves will pulsate, and that has been shown to cause damage to the structure of cells, enough to start the cancer process.

"Most local authorities have guidelines not to erect these kind of masts within 500 metres of schools. The closest mast on the roof of the telephone exchange will be ten to 12 metres from the bedroom of our 15-year-old son.

"I feel that my family is being used as a guinea pig for a multi-billion-pound industry."

The new generation mobile phones are able to send pictures and Mr Hussey said there is a fear they will be used to transmit pornographic images.

He said: "Having shelled out billions of pounds for their 3G licences, the mobile telephone operators have been desperately casting around for ways to recoup their investment. It appears that pornography could be their saviour."

Mr Hussey and his neighbours were so incensed by the proposal and the decision by Marlborough Town Council's planning committee to raise no objection to the scheme, that they entered the carnival procession on Sunday with a float highlighting the alleged dangers of the new masts.

The families pointed out they had not received notification about the plan by Kennet District Council.

Coun Graham Francis, chairman of the town council's planning committee, told householders his council colleagues were only reacting to the information before them.

He told the Gazette: "The town council had not received any objections and we were not aware that neighbours had not been informed as they should have been. Opinion was split on the committee and I used my casting vote in favour because, on the basis of the information before us, there didn't seem any reason to object.

"Until a report on the subject is published in 2004, there is no scientific evidence to prove a link between microwaves and cancer. That doesn't mean that this application should go ahead. In fact, it should be postponed until the report is published."

Mr Hussey said: "What we need now is for as many people to write to Kennet District Council pointing out the feelings of local people."

Residents are asked to write to Brad Fleet, director of planning services, Kennet District Council, Browfort, Bath Road, Devizes SN10 2AT by September 16. Kennet's regulatory committee is due to discuss the application on September 26 at 2.15pm.