BLACKROD councillors have rejected plans to erect a 12-metre high Vodafone tower on Green Belt land.

More than 30 people complained to Bolton Council's planning department about the telecommunications tower at Longworth's Tenement Farm in Dark Lane, Blackrod.

Vodafone Limited hoped to erect a satellite dish and equipment cabin at the same spot, which is classed as a site of special landscape value.

Wendy Fox, of the council's planning department, said the majority of complaints about the proposed tower were based on health concerns which cannot be considered under Government guidelines.

But there were also concerns over detriment to the skyline as the tower would be seen clearly from a number of houses.

Cllr Gavin Hester suggested most telephone companies could now build masts which blend into the environment and some are even made to look like trees.

Similar plans for phone masts in Lostock and Westhoughton have also met with disapproval after fears from residents over health matters and the affect on the environment.

Bolton North-east MP David Crausby has welcomed a new Government consultation paper on the development of telecommunication masts and Bolton-west MP Ruth Kelly has asked the council to clearly set out its opposition to mobile phone masts.

She has suggested the unitary development plan for the next 10 years should reflect opposition to phone masts after receiving many letters from constituents about health concerns.