There were tears of joy for a Carshalton mum who stood up to telecommunications giant Orange to keep a mobile mast off her daughters bedroom roof and won.

In a battle resonating the real-life-turned-big-screen tale of mother Erin Brockovich, who fought powerful corporate forces in smalltown America, Lysa Everett was determined not to let Orange erect a six metre antenna above 17-month-old Jamie-Leighs bedroom.

She and her neighbours condemned the application as a potential health hazard and a certain eyesore.

And for the past month, Mrs Everetts world has turned upside down. She has collected signatures, rallied in the streets, made countless calls to the local authority and hung painted banners across homes in Beacon Grove in preparation for the planning application reaching a council committee.

And her neighbours have rallied around, penning letters of objection and helping her cause.

But in a surprising twist, the application was never heard at committee because planning officers, using delegated powers, stepped in and rejected it.

The mast, they said, would not add to the appearance of Carshalton Village conservation area and it would detract from the amenities of

residents living nearby.

Speaking to the Comet moments after officers announced the decision, Mrs Everett, moved to tears, said: I am so pleased. It is such a weight off my mind. I can get back to normal life again

now, knowing they are not going to invade us with their monstrosity.

Orange, however, is refusing to give in. A spokesman told the Comet a radio engineer would be making a drive trial of the site to see if there are any alternative sites which fulfil the legal, planning and technical requirements in the same neighbourhood.

If unsuccessful, Orange has six months to appeal against the decision at Beacon Grove.

She added: That area is full of low-rise properties so it has been difficult for us to identify a suitable location.

We want to make sure that all our customers in that area can use their phones without any difficulties.

n Tempers look set to flare following the latest application from Orange rival BT Cellnet for a mobile mast to go up in Belmont Rise, Cheam. Already calls have been received by the Comet objecting to the proposal for a 10-metre column, three antennae and two equipment cabins on the site.