A MOBILE phone mast disguised as a lonesome pine is among a rash of applications being submitted to Darlington council.

Companies are in a race to get planning through ahead of legislation which may cramp their style.

Phone companies do not need planning approval for masts less than 15 metres (50ft) tall, and those which are bigger are given preferential planning treatment.

Mr Jeremy Smith, Darlington's principal planning officer, said he had noticed an increase in applications to link in with the new WAP phones, which have smaller cells.

In many cases decisions had to be made by senior officers, instead of the planning committee, because of the short time scale.

"Unlike other planning applications they do not fall within the eight-week period we are given to process them.

"The government in its wisdom put the boot on the other foot in making a law which says you have to make a decision within 42 days for the bigger ones or 28 days for a 15-metre mast. If you don't make a decision in time, they can go ahead anyway.

"But nationally there is a lot of criticism of the system, and it is likely the regulations will change in the near future. There is legislation in the pipeline."

One 2 One Personal Communications has lodged an application for a 12.5-metre mast at Oak Tree Farm, Yarm Road, and another for a 15-metre monopole at Hill Top Farm, Hurworth.

BT Quadrant wants to site a 7.5-metre stub tower on its telephone exchange at Barnard Street, Darlington.

Orange has put in an application for an antenna on a chimney at Teesside airport, and another for a field on Barmpton Lane, on the opposite side of the road to Barmpton Quarry. The latter looks as if it has foliage on top so that it will blend in with the scenery.