Campaigners today claimed a crucial victory in their battle to have mobile phone masts removed from a building on Canvey.

Mercury Communications said it would look at alternative sites for the ten-metre masts which it installed on the Transport Museum next to Leigh Beck County Infant and Junior Schools.

The move came after angry parents spoke out against the plans - and even staged a protest outside the school gates.

Nick Sharples, community relations manager for the phone company, said: "We will look at alternative locations and if we can find a suitable one that we can get approved from the council then we will move the masts."

However, he stressed: "It is all dependent on us being able to find an alternative site. In order to do that we would need the goodwill of the council but we will reserve the right for the masts to remain."

Protester, Jo Simmons, 41, of Point Road, said she was delighted with the news. She added: "If they start taking the masts down I will take a chair outside and a bottle of champagne and sit and watch it."

Labour councillor Dennis Williams, planning committee chairman at Castle Point Council, hailed the move a "victory for common sense".

Here's hoping - neighbours are delighted phone masts might be moving

Picture: MIKE BELLENIE

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.