CAMPAIGNERS fighting plans for a 41ft mobile phone mast near their homes have won a meeting with communications company One2One.

The residents of West Cornforth, near Ferryhill, are hoping to persuade the company to relocate the mast away from the village, when they meet on December 11.

They fear the mast could lead to children developing cancers, and are calling for more research into health risks.

The villagers have won the backing of North-East Euro MP Stephen Hughes, who has agreed to lobby David Byrne, the European Commissioner for health and consumer protection, to carry out more research. They hope it could eventually lead to a ban on masts being put up near schools and homes.

Their protest letter was presented to Mr Hughes at Durham County Hall, on Saturday.

Andrew Hubbard, who lives in Linden Road, the proposed site of the mast, said: "There are a lot of other people in similar situations, and I think if we can all pull together, it can be a successful campaign."

The residents will also hand in a petition with more than 300 names to Sedgefield Borough Council today.

One2One has said it would not put up anything which would pose a health risk.