HEALTH concerns over the siting of a mobile phone mast only metres from a Darlington school has prompted a North-East Euro-MP to table a question to the European Commission.

MEP Stephen Hughes has objected to the siting of the mast at a busy intersection in Darlington, which is close to St Augustine's Primary School, a playgroup, a hotel and a number of homes.

Communications company Orange has applied to Darlington Borough Council for planning permission to build the mast to improve reception in the town.

But Mr Hughes, who has worked for several years on health and safety issues involving mobile phone masts, has tabled a written question to the European Commission.

He is seeking new rules to cover the whole of the European Union, setting down clear guidelines on the siting of masts.

Mr Hughes said: "My main concern is the health risk to growing youngsters from continuous low-level exposure to fields and waves from a variety of sources.

"Scientific opinion is divided about the risk presented over the long-term, and little or no work has been done on the cumulative effect of simultaneous or serial exposure from a variety of sources."

The governors at St Augustine's Primary School have written to the borough council objecting to the scheme.

Chairman Martin McLean said: "Whilst we are aware that the Government wishes to facilitate the provision of the widest coverage to mobile phone users, we strongly believe that this aim must be secondary to the health of the community the service provider seeks to serve."

A Darlington council spokeswoman confirmed the authority had received a planning application, with a first round of consultation ending on August 8. A second consultation,which will take in extra people in the area, including St Augustine's Primary School, will be held, with residents receiving letters having 21 days to object to the scheme.

A spokesman for Orange said numerous scientific studies had been carried out by the World Health Organisation, with no evidence that masts caused health problems.

He said that councils had been recommended by the Government not to take into account health concerns when making planning decisions on mobile phone masts.