JUBILANT Orford residents are claiming victory over telecommunications giant T Mobile after the company withdrew a controversial application to erect a telephone mast near Hilden Island.

Notification of the proposals to erect a '12.5m discreet neighbourhood monopole of a streetlamp type construction' stirred up huge opposition in the area.

The applicant defended the move by explaining that the installation would provide improved and extended signal coverage to the north Warrington area and the surrounding road network.

The nearest residential properties would have been approximately 60 metres away in Derek Avenue, and the mast would have been located on a grass verge next to Hilden Island.

But furious neighbours wasted no time in drawing up a petition, lobbying local councillors and MPs and alerting the media to their campaign.

Criticism of the borough council also emerged amid accusations that the letter of notification received by residents was misleading and confusing.

Much of the opposition to the plans was grounded in the fear that mobile phone masts have never been proved to be safe.

One Derek Avenue resident, speaking before the application was withdrawn, said: "Isn't it about time that Warrington Borough Council listened to the people and banned mobile phone masts until they are proved safe?

"It is a perfectly ridiculous argument to say that it hasn't been proved that they do any harm and that we should listen to the experts. The experts have got it wrong before."

But now residents are breathing a sigh of relief after T Mobile did a U-turn and withdrew the plans in direct response to the opposition generated by the application.