PHONE mast protestors are celebrating after plans to locate two antennae close to their homes were turned down.

Residents of Marske were outraged to learn that the mobile phone giant One 2 One had earmarked sites on the Coast Road and Church Howle Crescent.

Two weeks ago, a group of locals organised a meeting to rally support for a protest against the masts.

Now Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council has sided with the residents in withholding permission for the masts.

Peter Goodwin, a member of the Marske and New Marske Residents' Association, said he was delighted by the decision.

"What's happened in these last couple of weeks is a credit to the village," he said. "We managed to spread the word about the masts, and more than 50 people came to the Residents' Association's emergency meeting to discuss them.

"There has been a flood of individual objections sent to the council and the company, backed up by objections from local councillors of all parties, and the Residents' Association itself."

Although Redcar and Cleveland has just introduced a protocol setting out strict rules for where phone masts can and cannot be placed, it only covers those measuring 15 metres or taller.

All other applications, including the latest for 12 metre masts, are currently approved through a Government fast-tracking system - unless the local authority can give a good reason why they should not be.

In this case, Redcar and Cleveland argued that they would be detrimental to the area's appearance.