A RESIDENT wants plans for an 82ft phone mast on the edge of her garden to be scrapped.

If given the go-ahead, it would be planted at the foot of Maria Stephenson's garden in Primrose Road, Clitheroe and, she says, would spoil an area of outstanding natural beauty.

Mrs Stephenson said: "The planned site for this mast is two metres from the foot of my garden. This house is a Georgian-listed building. Usually telephone masts are no higher than 15ft. This one at 82ft will be a monstrosity. The countryside here is special and to have this thing sticking into the air would be terrible."

The application by Orange for planning permission is still at the consultation stage and residents in the area have been sent letters by the council, asking if they have any objections.

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans said: "The public have to be consulted. The application should go through a full planning procedures and, if the mast is deemed unsightly, then I hope the environmental impact is taken on board by the local authority.

"The number of mobile telephone masts in Great Britain is expected to have doubled by the year 2007. Some are giants and will ruin the countryside if allowed. Nobody wants to hinder the progress of technology but there needs to be more consultation. Orange was the first mobile phone company in Europe to erect tree-shaped masts and recently built one at Broad Oak on the Accrington and Baxenden border.

Asked if Orange would consider disguising this mast as a tree, a spokesman said: "We use the 'Orange Tree' in areas of outstanding natural beauty. If this is the case we would consider it."

Mrs Stephenson is also concerned about dangers to health posed by a mobile phone mast but Orange said: "A typical Orange transmitter site operates at levels many hundreds of times below national and international guidelines, in areas where the general public have access.

"If Mrs Stephenson, or anyone else, wants to contact us, we will be happy to discuss their concerns."

Ribble Valley Borough Council confirmed that the application was still in the consultation process.