By Beverly Greenberg ANGRY parents will lobby Westhoughton Town Council on Monday in protest to a planning application for a mobile telephone mast.

The proposal submitted by Vodaphone for a 15 metre lattice at Daisy Hill Football Club, on St James's Street, was highlighted in last week's Down Your Way.

And parents are concerned that the mast will stand within yards of a popular tree house and rope swing used by children in the neighbourhood.

The mast, which also proposes to include two dishes and six antennae with an equipment cabin, marks the first application of its kind for a mast to be built on a sports ground within Westhoughton.

But the health fears surrounding the safety of mobile telephone masts has left residents frightened of the possible consequences if the application gets the go ahead.

Established effects of absorbing the radio waves given out by the masts can cause damage to tissues or heat stress, in addition to influencing the function of the nervous system. Anyone who touches metal objects near high power transmitters may receive burns.

And although the long term effects surrounding cancer fears have yet to be proven, parents say they would rather not take any chances.

Mum, Wendy McPherson, of Lower Leigh Road, said: "The site of the mast is likely to be within 10 yards of where our children play.

"And it is in close proximity with our homes. Over on the other side of the field there is an estate of about 300 houses. On our side we have only a handful of houses and it seems to me that there is a feeling that because we are few we do not matter.

"Nothing yet may have been proven about whether the rays sent out by these masts cause cancer, but until it is ruled out surely the safety of our children must come first.

"Even the parents of children who belong to the football club must surely be concerned.

"While there is a slight cancer risk, it can not be ruled out. The research being carried out must surely mean in itself that there is a chance.

"In addition, any children who touch the mast could be burned. It is one thing telling children not to touch, but quite another stopping them.

"I am astounded that we can not object on health grounds, particularly as I have read about other councils, such as South Lakeland and Stockport who have.

"But even so this is green belt land and on those grounds alone the mast should not be allowed.

"The mast would be about 50 yards from our houses and would be a blot on the landscape.

"I feel very strongly about this. There are more than 13 children who live close by, in addition to the numbers of those who play for the football club.

"We will be protesting against this and are appealing to as many people as possible to join us at Westhoughton Town Council on Monday night."