CONTROVERSIAL proposals to build a mobile telephone mast at a North-East football club have been dropped in the face of a public backlash.

Thornaby Football Club had agreed to allow a new mast to be erected at its ground, despite public opposition.

However, club members changed their minds when a petition with 1,000 signatures and 300 letters were sent to Stockton Borough Council.

Residents expressed fears about possible dangers to health from the mast, but were told that until a health risk was proven, the council could not ban the masts.

A spokesman for Thornaby Community Forum said yesterday: "The residents acknowledged that these masts are needed, but felt they should be erected in non-residential areas, stating there are enough industrial sites in the area."

Hartlepool Borough Council has already passed a policy not to erect masts in residential areas and Cleveland Fire Authority has banned masts on its properties, for financial gain.

Following the level of public objection to the proposal, the club announced that it would withdraw its offer to have a mast on its ground and stressed it had only agreed in the first place because of the amount of money it would bring in