A LEADING councillor is calling for the removal of all mobile phone masts near public buildings.

Stephen Smailes, leader of the Conservative group on Stockton Borough Council, plans to make the demand in a letter to George Garlick, the council's chief executive.

He claims that, while new applications for masts near schools and houses are turned down by the council, possible health hazards remain.

"When you look around, there are a lot of mobile phone masts that have been there for years," he said.

"I feel that, because of the potential health risks, they should be removed from all public buildings until it can be proved that they are safe.

"They said asbestos was safe and that there was no problem with BSE, but they were both proven to cause hazards. For the sake of public safety, I think that these phone masts should be moved."

l Communications company Orange has been refused permission to erect a mobile phone mast in Stockton.

The company had applied for permission to build the 15-metre mast and equipment at the Norton Sports Complex.