A Hampshire grandmother fears the government may be making the same mistakes with mobile phone masts as it did with asbestos - by ignoring the potential health risks.

Angela Brett, 59, from Winchester claimed the authorities knew about the

dangers of asbestos when her husband John inhaled it 50 years ago.

He died of asbestos-related cancer last year - aged 62.

Although there is no link between mobile phone masts and asbestos-related diseases, Angela says the government is not learning from the past.

She said: "There were known risks about asbestos but it was not banned. Now there are perceived risks about mobile phone masts.

"I cannot help but see a very strong link between the possible health dangers of mobile phone base stations and asbestos in the last century."

Angela has joined the vocal protest group campaigning against an Orange mobile phone mast in Byron Avenue, Winchester.

She lives in Byron Avenue, next door to daughter Dawn, 39, and four grandsons, aged between three and twelve.

Angela said: "My husband shouldn't have been exposed to asbestos.

"Now my grand-

children shouldn't be exposed to the potentially harming effects of the mast."

Angela spoke out at last week's four-day planning inquiry into the controversial Byron Avenue mast.

Yesterday she said: "It is something I feel very strongly about - and it is something John would have felt strongly about.

"I think if he had been with us he would have been very involved in fighting the case."

She added: "I do not think masts should be sited near schools or residential areas."

John, who was chief executive of an engineering firm, died in March 2001 from mesothelioma, a cancer near the lung.

He had been carrying the disease since aged 20, when he inhaled asbestos in a railway workshop. He died within six months of being diagnosed.

Last week saw the start of the Byron Avenue mast inquiry.

At it Orange said there is no firm evidence that mobile phone masts cause any health risks.

It will continue on January 15 next year.