FERRYHILL Town Council has written to Prime Minister Tony Blair to express opposition to planning rules over mobile phone masts.

Councillors and residents are opposing plans for a mobile phone mast in Church Lane. The mast is to be sited close to houses and businesses and prompted a 454-name petition.

Although the petition was handed in to Sedgefield Borough Council too late, it would not have made any difference.

Planning rules restrict local authority powers on applications for masts below 15m high.

Members of the town council decided to write to Mr Blair, who is also the town's MP, to try to get local views taken into account when mobile phone masts are proposed.

A spokesman for Ferryhill Town Council said: "Even where there is a massive opposition against a mast being installed, the voice of the public is not able to be heard. The mast can be erected despite protestations from local representatives. None of the town, borough or county councillors can do anything about it.

"It is extremely frustrating for everybody, because the public might think the councillors are not fighting their corner, but they are."