THE erection of a telegraph pole outside a village church has stunned residents.

For British Telecom has put the pole in the middle of the footpath outside Hurworth Methodist Church in West End.

"Parents are encouraged to walk their children to school rather than drive and this pole has been placed right in the middle of the pavement," Coun Ian Black told Tuesday's parish council meeting.

"Parents and joggers have been to see me. A pram can just get past it."

Coun Bal Krishan Shukla, who is also a governor at Hurworth Primary School, said the governors were concerned.

Ward Coun Peter Foster said BT had a statutory right to erect telegraph poles but that the positioning was unsuitable.

"I've had telephone calls from mothers who are surprised at its location and the pole is also interfering with the chapel's work.

"It was just put up without any thought whatsoever. It is a walk-to-school route for young children.

"Allegedly, the engineers looked at putting the pole up against the wall but said they would have to dig deep into the concrete because of the chapel foundations.

"BT could have saved a lot of money if it had just talked to the parish council."

Alan Jack, property secretary for Hurworth Methodist Church, said the pole had been positioned 3ft away from the building and that it had created several problems.

He said: "There is a long alleyway beside the chapel giving access to the church hall and it's impinging on that. It constitutes a health and safety problem.

"Elderly people and families walk past and the chapel is also in a conservation area."

He said he was unable to clean the chapel windows because the wires had been positioned directly in front of them.

"I have to hire a lift vehicle to clean the windows but I cannot do that because the wires are in the way.

"I am sure you are not allowed to do anything which impedes the management of a property.

"I have sent a letter to BT and the engineers at Darlington Borough Council."

A spokesman for BT said the company had statutory rights to put up poles in order to provide a telephone service for its customers.

He said: "We try to place a pole where it's going to be safe and not cause a hazard. But we have standards and rules that we have to abide by.

"If the parish council thinks it is in an unsuitable position, we will be happy to review it."

The parish council agreed to write to BT on behalf of the residents to raise their concerns.