A SECOND wave of protests has started in a north Durham village against plans to erect a mobile telephone mast.

Parents from Burnopfield have already lobbied Derwentside District Council and phone company One-2-One about plans to build a mast near Burnopfield Primary School.

Now residents from Lampton Gardens have vowed to fight the company's alternative plans to build a mast in the middle of a children's play area.

One of the Lampton Gardens protestors, who preferred not to be named, said: "The site is less than 100 yards from the homes. The area used to be an official playground a couple of years ago, and there's still a lot of children play there.

"I have spoken to just about everyone on this street, and there's no way something that is going to damage health like that is going up.

"We will fight every bit as hard as the residents from the Brian's Leap area of town."

Leader of the council Alex Watson, who promised to take up the cause of the original protestors, has also agreed to try to persuade One-2-One to change its mind about the second scheme.

He said that although the council was unable to refuse planning permission for the mast, it still had a limited time to challenge the company over its location and design.

Coun Watson said: "I thought there was a united front in the village, and had no idea about this separate protest until they contacted me.

"I went to a meeting with them and it was more than clear that they had very forcible views. As I told the other protestors, I think the answer is for One-2-One to share a mast with the other companies. They have said that is not feasible but we want the reasons why.

"The Government report, which looked at the whole issue of masts this year, recommended that phone companies should share whenever possible."

No one from One-2-One was available for comment last night