VILLAGE campaigners say they have raised enough cash to remove an unwanted phone mast - but its operator is refusing to change its stance.

Residents of Sheriff Hutton, between Easingwold and Malton, were angeredwhen the 15-metre mast was put up in their village in 2005.

The mast was built by Orange after council officials submitted formal objections to the company a day too late.

Campaigners in the village organised protests and the mast has never been switched on.

After a year of meetings with Ryedale District Council failed to find a solution, protestors have decided to take matters into their own hands.

Villagers have managed to raise £60,000 - the amount Orange says it will cost to remove the mast. But campaigner John Botting said none of their attempts to contact Orange have met with any response.

He said: "We're talking about various projects between us - re-mortgaging houses and getting loans - and we reckon that, there or thereabouts, we can muster the £60,000.

"We're continuing to write to them and continuing to phone.

"They're hoping we're just going to go away - that's not going to happen. There must be an alternative site to the one where it's currently situated."

He said villagers were concerned about possible health risks posed by phone masts.

But Martin Grey, Government and community relations manager for Orange, said: "In seeking to respond to local concern and reserving our rights to proceed, representatives of Orange have previously met with both Ryedale District Council and representatives of the mast action group.

"Despite attempts to allay concerns, the group has reiterated its intention to initiate further direct action to prevent connection of power to the long-established site.

"Having conducted a review of siting options, Orange maintains that the base station is located suitably when set against national planning guidance.

"As such, it remains our intention to take forward plans to connect power to the site and provide network coverage to the local area. Correspondence has been received and will be responded to in due course.