Representatives from one of the UK's largest mobile phone companies failed to turn up at a presentation specially held to waylay fears of radio masts.

A representative from Orange was due to address members of Rayleigh Town Council's planning and highways committee after concerned councillors wrote to the phone giant expressing their concerns.

Rayleigh already has a number of masts sited in the area, and Orange is one of a group of companies planning to erect even more as the mobile phone explosion continues.

Committee chairman Roy Swain said he was bitterly disappointed by the Orange no-show.

The presentation at the meeting was believed to be the first Orange would have given to a town council.

He said: "We have had this situation arise in the past when we needed to talk to people from the Post Office. Orange was very keen to meet us, and we are extremely disappointed.

"It is also a bit frustrating, because one councillor who does not sit on this committee and is a very busy person rushed down from London to get to the meeting, ask questions and listen to these people and they don't turn up.

"It's most upsetting."

Councillor Chris Lumley has been campaigning against the masts, and had drawn up a number of points he was going to raise at the presentation.

Among them was Rochford district council's insistence it has no planning control over the masts. Councillors were also armed with medical opinion from a doctor at Warwick University which highlighted health concerns.

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