THE anxious parents of two Winchester schoolchildren have decided to go it alone and challenge a controversial phone mast.

Campaigners have battled against a proposal by phone company Orange to erect a 39ft mast in Byron Avenue - just 150m from Western Primary School - for more than three years.

The City Council initially refused the plans, but the government's Planning Inspectorate granted permission for the mast earlier this year.

Today is the final deadline for any challenges to be launched, six weeks after the Planning Inspectorate's decision to give it the go-ahead.

Last week city councillors decided they had exhausted all their avenues to challenge the proposal, which left angry residents the last ones standing in the fight.

The parents of the Western Primary School pupils who are launching the challenge are determined to remain anonymous to protect their children's identity.

Leading campaigner Karen Barratt said: "I think it's wonderful that people are prepared to do this. We wish them every success and they have our full support.

"Although we were very disappointed that the council decided not to challenge the decision, in some ways it is appropriate that action is being taken on behalf of children because that's what this campaign has always been about."

A spokesman for Winchester City Council said: "Proceedings have been issued by parents on behalf of two local schoolchildren and we have formally replied to the Secretary of State that we will not be taking part in them, following the city council's decision last week.

"It will be up to the Secretary of State to answer that challenge."

The city council is still waiting to decide whether to fight the costs of the action after the inspectorate ruled the authority should pay the bill for Orange's legal costs.