MOBILE phone companies have agreed to work more closely with countryside organisations to protect the landscape while improving communications in rural areas.

The Yorkshire Dales National Park authority has welcomed the "accord" agreement, signed by the Mobile Operators' Association, Association of National Park Authorities and the Association for Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty

The accord underlines phone operators' obligations to protect the special qualities of national parks and AONBs, while planning authorities recognise the need for consistent mobile telecommunications.

The park authorities association and the operators have agreed to meet once a year.

The operators will also provide plans to each national park authority and both sides will look at ways of reducing the impact masts have on the environment. This could include companies sharing masts and producing new designs more in keeping with the landscape.

Pre-application discussion between agents, planning consultants and national park authority planners will also take place to further minimise the environmental impact of proposed schemes.

Peter Watson, head of planning with the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, said: "People living and visiting national parks naturally want the same quality of communication services as the rest of the country. This gives us all a great challenge to make provision without damaging our finest landscapes.

"The accord, which encourages very special consideration of landscape issues and which will encourage innovation in reducing visual impact, provides an excellent framework within which we can all work."

Mike Dolan, executive director of the Mobile Operators' Association, said: "Mobile phone operators welcome the opportunity the accord creates to work with the national parks to bring twentieth century technology and timeless landscapes together in an environmentally sensitive manner.

"Network operators recognise their obligation to protect the special qualities of the national parks and AONBs."