PARENTS have threatened to take their children out of a leading Winchester private school if a controversial mobile phone mast goes up.

Mums and dads of pupils at St Swithun's School made the threat after planning bosses yesterday agreed permission for the mast that will be constructed near to the site of an existing mast.

Both the structures will be within metres of the boarding buildings at the Alresford Road school.

Emma Mitchell, of Chapel Lane in Easton near Winchester, whose three daughters are at the school, said: "I'm not going to let my daughters come into senior school if the mast goes up."

Father of two pupils, Paul Clegg, from Littleton, added: "I think it's wrong.

"Whilst the risks are not proven, I, as a parent, feel uncomfortable about my children being at a school where there's a mast."

The comments came as more than a dozen mothers and fathers of children at the 220 pupil mixed junior school and 450 all girls' senior school crowded round the proposed mast site for a viewing of the location by Winchester City Council planning chiefs.

After a demonstration of the height of the monopole - by a specially adapted off-road vehicle with a portable extendable mast -councillors on the planning committee voted through the scheme by five votes to three.

However, those opposing the mast believe the committee's decision flies in the face of recent government advice, which states there should be a precautionary approach to the siting of masts near schools, and that the beam of "greatest intensity" should not fall over their grounds.

There have been 85 letters of objection to the plan, including one from the school citing possible health risks, a lack of consultation and too little information from the mobile phone company.

Robin Henderson, representing Turner and Henderson, O2's agent, said the beam would go in two directions - straight up Alresford Road and towards the motorway - missing the school buildings. He added: "The radiation delivered by a TV will be greater."

Campaigners battling against the siting of a mast by Orange at Byron Avenue near Western Primary School in Winchester are still considering whether to pursue their case to the House of Lords.