A COUPLE who campaigned against plans for a phone mast, fearing it would affect their daughter's leukaemia, are celebrating success.

Hutchison 3G applied to Durham City Council for permission to erect a 20m mast at Low Newton Farm, Brasside, Durham - 100m from the home of Terry Bennett, Katy Hicken, and their daughter Rachel, aged five.

The couple feared that the mast, planned to serve Hutchison 3G customers as well as those of up to four other mobile phone operators, would cause Rachel's acute lymphoblastic leukaemia to worsen.

They mounted a campaign to block the plans, putting up petitions at the local post office, store and hairdressers, and holding public meetings.

The couple also lobbied councillors and held talks with Hutchison 3G, telling them there was widespread opposition to the mast and appealing for another site to be found.

They had compiled a portfolio of objections, focusing on health and safety concerns, the mast's visual impact, and the availability of alternative sites, when they received notification that the plans had been scrapped.

Mr Bennett, 26, said: "We got a phone call from one of the council people saying Hutchison 3G was withdrawing their plans.

"We then got a letter from Hutchison to say that it was nothing to do with us.

"They said they had carried out an independent survey and it was not needed."

Mr Bennett said that while he was delighted with the decision, he still had concerns.

"If the mast was not needed, why did they apply for it in the first place?", he said.

"The only thing that has us worried is that they felt the need to put on the bottom of the letter that they might reapply in the future."

Ben Strutt, Hutchison 3G's community affairs manager, said: "We have found that our network is already providing decent coverage for our videophones in this area without the need for an extra base.

"This situation could possibly change if the number of users of our network increases and we need further transmitters to cope with demand.

"If this happens, we may revive our interest in the farm or other site.