PLANNING permission has been refused for a telecommunications mast because of fears that Tonge Fold is becoming "overpopulated" with the towers.

Bolton's planning committee agreed that the applicant, Hutchinson 3G UK, had not made enough effort to find a site to share.

They refused the request to build a 15-metre high mast with three antennas, three microwave dishes and an equipment cabin, on the top of Albion Extrusions in Penrose Street, off Bury New Road.

Cllr Elaine Sherrington said: "I find it incredible that we could end up with so many in one area, people will won't need to turn their microwaves on in Tonge soon to cook their food because of all the microwaves in the air.

"No other areas of Bolton would put up with this."