PROTESTORS against a plan to site a phone mast in Bishampton will take their fight to the company at the weekend when they mount a picket and protest outside the T-Mobile shop in central Evesham.

The villagers have been angered by the company's refusal to meet to discuss alternative sites for the placement of the 15-metre mast just yards from their homes.

And at a public meeting in the village hall last month, residents voted for more direct action, leading to the decision to demonstrate outside the Bridge Street shop this weekend.

Leading objector Tony Waghorn, who lives near Nightingale Farm, where it is proposed to site the mast, said: "T-Mobile have rejected alternative sites and we believe this is purely down to money. This mast should not be anywhere near people."

He said villagers feared the mast could affect their health and action group members pointed to a newspaper report which condemned T-Mobile for not heeding a warning about the alleged dangers from cancer from mobile handsets and masts.

T-Mobile spokesman John Shaunnassy previously said the company had commissioned four reports on the subject and only one was of the opinion there could be a problem.

He also said that three other sites proposed by villagers were not suitable.

Mr Waghorn responded: "We are not against mobile phones - we appreciate people do have them and do use them.

"But we do not feel it is right that these masts should be close to our children's bedroom windows."