Protestors today formed a human barricade to stop more mobile phone masts being erected on the roof of their block of flats in Westcliff.

Around 20 people living in Chalkwell Lodge stood across the driveway at the entrance to the flats to stop a large crane driving in.

The crane had been sent by BT Cellnet to put masts on top of the London Road building.

The protesters, most of them pensioners, are worried the masts will cause damage to their properties and pose a serious health risk.

One of the residents, Bob Nunn, said: "We've been blighted by these masts for the past four years and now we've just had enough.

"We have already got masts belonging to Orange and Mercury Communications. A surveyor has said that large cracks in the walls of the tower on which they are secured have been caused by the weight of these masts.

"The latest research says that masts should be more than 200 metres from a residence. Yet here some people are living 13 metres from the masts."

Residents also parked their cars across the entrance to prevent the crane from entering their forecourt.

Many of their vehicles displayed photoghraphs of the damage done by the existing masts and press cuttings about the dangers of mobile phone radiation.

Mr Nunn claimed that only half of the residents of the 113-flat block had received a letter notifing them of the work to be done today.

He added: "The last time a crane was used to erect masts it damaged our forecourt.

"Many of the residents are elderly and use sticks or frames and this is a serious safety risk to them."

Neither the contractor for BT, Galliford, nor BT Cellnet was available for comment.

After a three-hour stand-off the crane drove away but protesters said they would be ready for it when it returned.

Brought to a halt - Bob Nunn and Arthur Holgate stand beside the crane they stopped from entering Chalkwell Lodge

(Right) 'We've had enough' - protesters form a human barricade to stop more mobile phone masts being erected on the top of their flats

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