ABOUT 400 people have signed a petition to prevent a mobile phone mast from being erected at a sports stadium.

One2One has applied to Middlesbrough Borough Council for permission to put up a mast, complete with transmitters, at the town's Clairville Stadium.

If the application succeeds, it will stand on top of one of the stadium's four floodlights, towering 27m into the sky.

But nearby residents are determined to block the plans, arguing that there is insufficient proof that such masts are safe. They say One2One could not have chosen a less appropriate location.

Tracey Gray, of Clairville Road, said: "We live about 50 yards from the stadium and St Joseph's RC School is only about 100 yards away.

"My daughter will be starting nursery there in September and the main reason I'm objecting is that there is no proof of the health risks. I do appreciate that masts are needed, but they shouldn't put them where people are."

As a result of residents' opposition to plans, a petition bearing 235 signatures has been compiled.

A similar response came from parents and governors from St Joseph's School, who have drawn up their own petition bearing more than 135 names.

Mrs Gray said: "We would like to stop masts from being put up in Middlesbrough at all."

Mike Moran, head at St Joseph's, said: "They couldn't have picked a worse spot. There will be a high concentration of radio waves here, which will be a danger to our school."

A spokesman for Middlesbrough Borough Council, which will discuss the plans on February 16, said: "We have had a range of petitions and objections which will get full consideration at the meeting. We treat each planning application on its own merits."