A consumer campaign against Texaco is brewing to stop a mobile phone mast close to scores of Winchester homes.

Residents in the Weeke area are threatening to boycott the company's petrol station in Stockbridge Road to stop it accepting a 13-metre mast.

MP, Mark Oaten, is also throwing his weight behind the campaign. He has written to Texaco chiefs urging them to think again before agreeing to site the mast at the petrol station.

Over 50 people attended a meeting to hear about the plans by Hutchison 3g for the mast. Although it was given planning permission by the city council in August, the campaigners hope consumer power will persuade Texaco to withdraw from the scheme.

A major concern is the impact of radiation from the mast on children at Weeke Primary School, in Stoney Lane.

The meeting attended by representatives of Texaco and Hutchison 3g heard residents express their fears.

Resident, Jan Wisniewski, said: "This is new technology that could be affecting our children's brains. We don't want this on our doorstep. We will boycott Texaco and I will personally stand outside with a placard."

Malcolm Bosher, representing Texaco and Mark Navolio, from Hutchison, tried to reassure the meeting that the mast would be safe.

But they largely failed. Mr Oaten, who was at the meeting, said later: "This has raised more questions in my mind. I want to make direct contact with Texaco to ask them to think again.

"I'm particularly concerned that Texaco's own research into health risks has only focused on their own land, not the residents, who are also their customers."

Dr Paul Weaver, a cancer specialist, said the health risk from phone masts was still unclear. Research showed some evidence that the radiation could cause cancer. He said afterwards that he had not been assured: "We do not know enough about the long-term effects of radiation."

The meeting was chaired by Michael King, of Parkside Gardens, who saidit had been useful. "A lot of the technical stuff was above our heads. But we still don't want the mast."

Residents have sought legal advice about seeking a judicial review against the city council for approving the scheme.

Mr Bosher told the meeting the threatened boycott could sway the company's decision. No contract had yet been signed with Hutchison. "I will take your views back to the company."

The meeting confirmed that one of the mast's three beams of greatest intensity would pass directly through a block of flats above the shops on Stoney Lane. Another would pass over The Chimneys pub and the other near Parkside Gardens.

Mr Oaten has now joined the chorus of disapproval: "I was alarmed that Texaco's independent safety study had only looked at the issues created on the forecourt, " he said.

"The beam of intensity does not fall on the forecourt, but on neighbouring properties."