Campaigners protesting about plans to site a mobile phone mast near to a Winchester Primary school launched their appeal at the High Court yesterday.

Two pupils of Western Primary School are spearheading the campaign against proposals by Orange to put a 12-metre high mast in Byron Avenue.

Phoebe St Leger Davey, of Chilbolton Avenue and James Harrison, of Poets Way, are asking the Appeal Court to overturn a High Court ruling earlier this year which backed a government inspector's decision to allow the mast plan.

Opening the case, their counsel, David Wolfe, said: "The claimants live and go to school near the site. They and their families are concerned about the potential health impacts of the mast on them.

"The central issue is how the inspector should have dealt with the fact that there were alternative, technically better, sites on which the mast could be placed."

The case could have major implications for the mobile phone industry, as it raises questions about the extent of their compulsory purchase powers under the 1984 Telecommunications Act and could have a major impact on the siting of future phone masts.

(Proceeding)