MORE than 200 people joined a protest march through Harrogate yesterday in a row over a new mobile phone mast near three schools in the town.

Parents and children, some carrying home-made banners, walked through town centre streets before assembling for a rally on The Stray.

Harrogate Borough Council has already refused the 25-metre mast within a few hundred yards of Granby High School, St Robert's RC Primary and Woodfield Primary.

The march was organised after parents heard that the mast could get the go-ahead following an imminent appeal court hearing in London.

Campaign leader and march organiser Paula Brooks, whose daughters, Ruthie and Beth, attend St Robert's, was overwhelmed by the support.

She said: "The whole thing has just taken off. Once, there were one or two of us - then, suddenly, people have realised the importance and we have all these people marching. I had no idea so many would turn out to support us."

Mrs Brooks said the march was "just the start" of a growing campaign. A ticket-only meeting has been arranged for Monday, October 4, at St Robert's School, when an expert on mobile phone masts, Dr Gerard Hyland, from Warwick University, will speak.

Mobile phone companies have also been invited, but have so far declined.

The mast planning application which has led to the protest was tabled by T-Mobile, Orange and Hutchinson 3G for a site on top of Harrogate Borough Council's Claro Road depot.

The council wants the appeal court to back the original decision to refuse permission.