CONTROVERSIAL plans to build a mobile phone mast on the roof of a parish hall have been scrapped after public protests.

Telephone company O2 had applied for permission to erect a 3.8m antennae and a base station in Church House, Hutton Rudby.

Residents said the mast would be unsightly and voiced concerns about possible health risks. A public meeting was called by the church council on May 10 and a 369-name petition drawn up.

The council discussed the issue on Thursday night and has now told O2 that it cannot use the hall to site the equipment. A statement from the church council said: "The council's view, as stated at the public meeting, is that the matter needed to be explored with O2.

"However, in view of the strong feelings expressed at the (public) meeting, many of which showed that the proposal was leading to personal distress, the church, being here to serve the village, does not wish this division to continue. We have therefore advised O2 that they cannot use our building for a mast."

The church council had been in negotiations with O2 since the beginning of the year, and would have received several thousand pounds in return for having the equipment.

The planning application had been due to go before Hambleton District Council's development control committee on Thursday. More than 100 letters of objection were sent to the authority, along with a formal objection from Hutton Rudby Parish Council over the effect on the village's conservation area, health issues, and the high level of public concern.

Canon David Lickess, the vicar of Hutton Rudby, said yesterday: "I and the church have listened to people's perceived views of the health risks and their genuine concern for children.

"The church cares about these and our council decided that they outweigh the potential benefits of improved phone reception."