A PUBLIC protest is planned in the heart of a national park today by campaigners who have spent the past two years resisting plans for a telecommunications mast close to their homes.

The dish and tower are part of a package which will allow emergency services in North Yorkshire to improve their radio communications.

At the moment, both paramedics and police are plagued by "blind spots" where they are unable to speak to their control centres.

However, people who live in the Farndale area of the North York Moors are worried that the mast, not far from the famous Daffodil Walk, could pose a risk to their health and that of visitors.

In a final effort to draw attention to their case, they will gather at the site at Coat Hill to protest at 1.30pm today.

"Scientific research has indicated that the mast could be emitting frequencies which should be avoided as they can interfere with biological systems," said spokeswoman Liz McCabe.

"We don't want to stand in the way of an improved radio network for the emergency services, but we have been caught in the middle. All we are saying is that we want more research before we accept it is safe for the mast to be installed.''

However, the North York Moors National Park's chief planning officer, Val Dilcock, said the authority only approved the mast after consultation with experts, as well as with the National Radiological Protection Board.

She said: "We understand the residents' concerns and the fact it has taken us two years to reach this decision reflects how seriously we have taken them. However, the permission we have given is only temporary. Should the opinions of experts in this field alter, then we would be in a position to respond to that."