PROTESTORS against a telephone mast in Weardale say they will continue their campaign if they lose a planning battle next week.

Villagers in Cowshill, in Upper Weardale, are objecting to a 15-metre mast which mobile phone company One2One wants to build at Dales Farm, High Copthill, inside a designated area of outstanding natural beauty.

Retired solicitor Brian Shieldhouse and his wife, Pauline, have led the campaign, bombarding local authority planning officers with objections and enlisting the support of Durham Euro MP Stephen Hughes.

The couple fear the mast would be a health risk, would duplicate existing masts and would blight the countryside.

They say their campaign has the backing of almost half the population of the hamlet.

Eighteen written objections have been submitted to Wear Valley District Council, and 14 people have signed a petition.

Stanhope Parish Council has raised no objection to the scheme, but the Weardale Society has said that masts should not be built near homes until doubts over health issues have been resolved.

It also says that masts should not be sited in areas of outstanding natural beauty or high landscape value.

But Wednesday's meeting of the district council's planning committee looks likely to approve the mast application on the recommendation of planning director Bob Hope.

The company has told the council it needs seven other sites to create a mobile phone network through Weardale along the A689: at Helme Park; Sandy Carr, near Wolsingham; White Kirkley, near Frosterley; Jollybody Farm, Stanhope; Eastgate; St John's Chapel and Holy Well.

Mr Shieldhouse intends to make a final plea to councillors at Wednesday's meeting, which starts at 6pm.

He said: "We don't expect to win because they are determined to drive this through. If we lose we will be consulting a solicitor to take legal action.

A One2One spokesman said: "Masts are very low-powered. We are tightly regulated and we have to comply with very strict standards. Our base stations are safe and don't cause a health risk to any member of the public."