DURHAM County Council is to produce a guidance document on siting radio masts in schools.

The siting of masts has provoked controversy over the possible health effects of radiation emissions.

Cabinet members have asked the council's policy development forum for promoting strong, healthy and safe communities to come up with a policy for radio masts.

Nigel Porter, Durham County Council's deputy director of social services, said: "Cabinet members were concerned to make sure that the issue of radio masts is properly explored by the county council.

"They've asked the council's scientific officer to look at evidence from around the country so they can make an informed decision. The officers will be looking at that information to give advice and guidance back to the cabinet, so they can take it forward."

He said: "This is taken seriously by the county council and we will be producing something as quickly as we can on the issue of radio masts."

The document will be circulated to schools, health authorities, local authorities and other interested parties in the county.

Radio masts were the subject of a heated debate at a recent Sedgefield Borough Council planning meeting.

Members had wanted to block an application for a mast near a nursery school, but they were unable to do so because they could not find a valid planning reason.

County and borough councillor Tony Moore said he believed planning permission for masts should be refused until the document was produced.

He said: "It seems that every council and councillor is concerned and the planners should not allow any further applications until this report is out.

"They are just giving these masts planning consent willy-nilly, and they should be investigating the safety of these radio masts before they give planning permission.