A MOBILE phone giant hoping to tackle poor reception in Ribble Valley has slammed a council's decision to block a town centre mast.

Phone users in Clitheroe complained about difficulty using mobiles, with Hutchison 3G coming in for particular criticism.

3G had hoped to site a phone mast on top of the Conservative Club in Castle Street, Clitheroe.

But Ribble Valley Council planning officers refused plans, citing the size, design and position as reasons.

They said the four metre-high simulated flagpole would have ruined the skyline in the main street and clashed with surrounding buildings.

Brian Spooner, North West regional spokesman for Hutchison 3G, said: "Our design was a simulated flagpole to be sympathetic with the building and its surroundings.

"Clitheroe is noted for problems with mobile reception due to its topography and the approval of the base station would have helped to improve 3G mobile coverage in the town. It was the perfect solution for a town that has struggled with coverage."

The company is now considering returning to the town with another application.

John Macholc, the council's development control manager, said: "We turned it down on he grounds of its visual impact, chiefly from the car park and market place below.

"Coverage of the mobile phone network was not a material consideration."

In October last year 3G were criticised after blaming Clitheroe's poor reception on too many calls being made from its mobiles.

Customers at the town's only mobile phone shop, Phone Works in Eshton Terrace, have complained for months of poor reception.

The store's owner, Lee Roe, said: "The Conservative Club application was a non-starter. It was in a dip and surrounded by masses of other buildings so coverage would have been greatly reduced."