FURIOUS residents are demanding the removal of a radio mast after describing it as a potential threat to public health.

Protesters packed a public meeting at Hythe last night to voice their anger at the installation of the mast, which was erected without planning permission.

They claimed the telecommunication equipment at Home Farm, Dibden, was too close to homes and schools in the area.

Campaigners also accused New Forest Council of being negligent, saying the authority had failed in its duty to protect the local community.

The mast has been installed by Airwave MM O2 as part of a nationwide project to equip the police with a new system called Terrestrial Trunked Radio (Tetra).

Last night's meeting was called by Dibden Residents Against Tetra (Drat), which represents people living in the Tamar Grove area.

Chairman Barrie Slipper said Tetra had already been introduced in Lancashire, where police officers had begun to complain of headaches and other health problems.

He added: "We have serious concerns for the health of local residents. The council should have been more robust in its dealings with Airwave, but didn't issue a stop notice and thus failed to protect the community from Tetra."

Planning officer Steve Avery said the council had served an enforcement notice on September 24. He said: "If Airwave don't lodge an appeal they will have to remove the mast by the end of December. If the mast stays, they'll be committing a criminal offence."

Mr Avery stressed that the telecommunications tower had been turned down on visual grounds.

He said the government had told local authorities to ignore any health concerns when determining mast applications and deciding whether to issue enforcement notices.

However, West Sussex anti-mast campaigner John O'Brien said councillors in Chichester had just rejected four mast schemes on health grounds.

Airwave declined an invitation to send a representative to the meeting.

Last month the company claimed it had used emergency powers to install the mast after its application was turned down by the district council.