DURHAM County Council is to produce a guidance document on radio masts in schools.

The siting of masts has provoked controversy in recent weeks over the possible health effects of radiation emissions.

Now cabinet members have asked the council's policy development forum for promoting strong, healthy and safe communities to come up with a policy for phone masts.

Nigel Porter, Durham County Council's deputy director of social services, said: "Cabinet members were concerned to make sure the issue of radio masts is properly explored by the county council.

"They've asked the council's scientific officer to look at evidence from around the country so they can make an informed decision.

"The officers will be looking at that information to give advice and guidance back to the cabinet so they can take it forward."

He added: "This is taken seriously by the county council and we will be producing something as quickly as we can on the issue of radio masts."

The document will be circulated to schools, health authorities, local authorities and other interested parties in the county.

Masts were the subject of a heated debate at a recent Sedgefield Borough Council planning meeting.

Members had wanted to block an application for a mast near a nursery school, but were unable to do so because they could not find a valid planning reason.

Tony Moore, a borough and county councillor, says he thinks planning permission for masts should be refused until the document is produced.

He said: "It seems that every council and councillor is concerned and the planners should not allow any further applications until this report is out.

"They're just giving these masts planning consent willy-nilly and they should be investigating the safety of these radio masts before they give planning permission."