PLANS to site a mobile phone mast in Sutton have been thrown out by Craven planners.

Nearby residents have been up in arms over the proposal to site a 15-metre high BT Cellnet mast on land belonging on Thompson's Woodturners on Holme Lane.

Last week we revealed that the firm had instructed its solicitors to withdraw the application.

However, South Craven planning officer Richard Preston has told the Herald that the proposal has been officially refused by Craven District Council.

He added that it had been turned down on grounds that it would be "alien" to the area and because of the groundswell of opposition.

Residents on Holme Lane were furious that the mast could be sited in the vicinity of their homes, North Yorkshire's largest comprehensive school and a nursery.

Anna Duggan, who helped spearhead the objections, said she was "over the moon" with news that the mast proposal had been turned down.

"We're all very relieved that it's not going to be put there, but we don't want it in the next field down either," she added.

Glusburn Parish Council members were angry that they had not been consulted about the mast idea, despite the location being on the village's border with Sutton.

At last Wednesday's monthly meeting, Coun Philip Baker dismissed the objections on health grounds as "mass hysteria".

But chairman Isobel Westhead replied: "Until it's been proved otherwise we must take the pessimistic view."

And Coun Tim Cole added: "I think there's an issue here that we're not being kept properly informed as a parish council."