RESIDENTS were cheering today after plans to upgrade a mobile phone mast were thrown out by councillors.

An application, to replace an existing 15m telecommunications pole with a 17.2m one and six antennae and three microwave dishes, prompted 11 letters of objection, nine from neighbouring residents.

A mast has been on top of Courtesy Shoes, Park Road, Bacup, since 1993, but the applicant wanted permission for the new mast to improve coverage and capacity.

On hearing that the plan had been turned down newsagent Susan Goggins, who lives in New Line, near the site said: "I am very pleased.

"Where that mast is we have got two rows of houses and the church. The microwave dishes would have been on the same level as the bedrooms in my house.

Susan, who has three children children Melanie, 16, Matthew, 15 and Callum, ten, added: "We are all concerned that not enough is known about the effects of these masts and whether it is safe.

"There are enough hills in this valley not to have to put mobile phone masts in the bottom, near our houses. I am glad they have refused it."

Owner of Razor's Hair Salon Kim Johnson, who also lives on New Line, said: "I am quite relieved because it was pointing in the direction of the bedrooms in my house.

"Pylons are being investigated and 20 years down the line are they going to be responsible if something is found out about masts?

"Quite a few people on the industrial site were not happy about the plan."

At the engineering and planning sub-committee officers recommended approval but councillors refused the plan because it would be detrimental to the residential amenity of the area. The decision must be ratified by the full council.