ENRAGED residents fearful for the health of their families are calling for action after a mobile phone mast was constructed to overshadow their homes without them knowing.

Residents in Bedale Walk on the Fleet Estate, Dartford, are horrified and have set up a petition have it knocked down.

But Dartford Council and MP Dr Howard Stoate are equally infuriated because Hutchison 3G put the mobile phone mast up in Downs Farm on June 24 without getting planning permission.

Annette Gough, 28, and Elaine Bowland, 44, are worried about the effects the mast could have on their children.

Mrs Bowland has a 20-year-old son who is mentally and physically disabled, and Mrs Gough has to keep a watchful eye on her four-year-old daughter who had brain surgery when she was a baby.

She said: “She’s fine now but we still have to watch her development because she has a cyst on the back of her brain, so we really don’t need this.” Mrs Bowland, who is helping organise the petition, said: “We saw lorries pulling into the farm and we wandered what was going on. Before we knew it the mast was up. You can see it from miles away and everyone here is up in arms about it.” Dr Stoate, who insists on seeing all phone mast planning applications submitted to the council, said: “I’m extremely angry a mast should go up without permission. It’s outrageous.” The council only heard about the mast when residents complained last Tuesday.

Council development officers dispute the company’s justification of putting the mast up and were expected to meet the company this week. Talks are under way to take the mast down.

Hutchison 3G community affairs manager Mike Davies said: “We have looked long and hard for sites and we can’t find one.

“This is a temporary mast. Under the Telecoms Act we can have a temporary mast for 28 days.”