A 15-metre phone mast at Darwen Cricket Club is set for approval, despite ‘grave’ objections from scores of residents.

A petition with 52 names has been handed to Blackburn with Darwen Council against the Vodafone structure earmarked for land between the groundsman’s shed and the pavilion at the Birch Hall ground.

The petition cites residents’ concerns for children’s safety, that the mast will be taller than nearby houses, and ‘that in such a busy, built-up area there is a possibility of vandalism’.

Health studies have so far failed to find any conclusive evidence that shows mobile phone masts are a health risk.

Vodafone approached the cricket club about putting the telecommunications mast on their land.

Mobile phone companies typically pay thousands of pounds annually over a fixed number of years for landowners letting them erect masts.

Officials from the cricket club said the money from Vodafone would be ‘one revenue stream’ that would help improve facilities for the people of Darwen.

Earcroft councillor Trevor Maxfield said: “I have had quite a lot of residents approach me with grave concerns about this mast, and I have deep concerns about it myself.

"It will be very tall and located near a school.

“The planners are not obliged to recognise health and safety, but they can look into the size of it, and I believe that is what a lot of the complaints focus on.”

The Cricket Club had a previous application for a Vodaphone mast to be built on Higher Birch Hall, just below Darwen Golf Club, rejected by Blackburn with Darwen Council because it was to be built on green-belt land.

Mobile phone firms need planning permission for masts over 15 metres tall.

The plans are set for approval at the next planning and highways committee meeting at Blackburn Town Hall at 6.30pm on Thursday.