A MOTHER withdrew her 16-year-old daughter from a Blackburn college after just seven weeks because of fears over a mobile phone mast plan.

Kevin McMahon, principal at St Mary's College in Shear Brow, told a public meeting the shock move showed the strength of feeling against the Vodafone application, for land behind the college.

Residents were last night told the application had been withdrawn in favour of another site nearby -- but they pledged to oppose this just as strongly.

Mr McMahon said of the pupil: "She settled in very well but such is the concern that (her mother) moved her with immediate effect after she saw the proposal."

He went on: "I am sure Vodafone would take a dim view of me invoicing them for the £4,500 we lost with that student."

Mr McMahon also said after the meeting: "It is still a matter of metres from where it is proposed now.

"It is in the wrong part of a built-up area, very close to the college and with the added risk of it being an obstruction to traffic."

Speaking at the public meeting, attended by about 50 residents at the college last night, Mr McMahon said if he accepted the mast, that would be "similar to pointing a loaded gun" at parents.

He said: "In 20 years I don't want to be regretting the day that I stood by and did nothing about something being put up so close to these children."

Blackburn with Darwen councillor Michael Law-Riding said he had been told by a council officer yesterday that the application was no longer being pursued.

Yet he said the phone giant would instead appeal against the council's ruling against a mast for the triangle of land where East Park Road meets Shear Brow, virtually opposite the college.

But St James' Road resident Sarah Robinson, 63, said: "We are not going to give up no matter where they put it. We will fight it, we won't stop."

He said Vodafone and its agents had been invited but did not attend the meeting to discuss the plan.

Almost 500 signatures have been collected for a petition opposing the mast, the crowd heard.