RESIDENTS in a Ribble Valley town have won their battle over a Vodafone mast eyesore.

The telecommunications mast, which was erected without permission at Inglewhite Road, Longridge, must be removed within six weeks.

The order has come from the planning inspectorate which threw out the mobile phone company's appeal to keep the mast standing.

Ribble Valley borough councillors had refused permission for the mast on the grounds that it was an eyesore and did not have planning consent.

Vodafone took the borough planners' decision to appeal.

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans said: "I am delighted that local residents have won this battle.

"This is a warning to large telecommunications companies that they have got to think twice before erecting masts wherever they feel like it.

"I hope that Vodafone will accept the decision and remove the eyesore before the six-week deadline

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