CANCER fears have inspired a Hampshire father-of-three into a five-year campaign to safeguard his children's safety.

Roy Drysdale believes his three boys, Robert, 3, Thomas, 5, and Ross, 8, may be at risk from potential radiation emissions caused by communications masts near the family's Bishop's Waltham home, but he cannot prove it.

And the companies, which use the masts say there is no evidence to show they pose a health risk. Roy, 49, a company director, has written more than 100 letters of protest since the first mast was erected in 1994.

He said: "We have been subjected to these worries since the aerials were put up. In America, where proper surveys have been carried out, they don't allow masts to be put near residential properties. "Some mobile phone companies here won't have their masts erected any closer than 200 metres. I cannot get radiation measured and the council doesn't have any equipment to do so."

The masts, used by Orange and BT Cellnet, were erected within 15 metres of the house, off Botley Road. Winchester City Council gave its permission. Mr Drysdale said: "If they were placed further away then there would be less chance of being affected by any radiation rick and they would still work effec-tively."

The council's planning department team manager, Sian Proudlock, said: "Although problems with radiation may have been confirmed in other coun-tries, there have been no such findings in our country.

"The National Radiological Protection Board carries out monitoring for the government and it has never found any proof."

She added that the second mast, erected this year, was to replace the first and a time limit had been set for the companies to take it down.

Green Party spokesman Andy Springs said Mr Drysdale had a right to be concerned because there was evidence for and against mobile phones. He said: "They are putting up more and more of these masts and the truth is we don't know what effect they are having.

"There is the wait-and-see process about these problems and they are assuming if there is a problem, they can sort it out along the way. "It would be nice to see the burden of proof placed on the companies but it is up to Roy to try to prove they are unsafe."

A spokeswoman from Orange said there was no conclusive evidence between the links with radiation and public health issues. She said the company follows European and international safety standards and they work within the standards set by the National Radiological Protection Board.

"We know residents have concerns, but there is no conclusive evidence. "Before we consider siting a mast we do a lot of research to prove it has the best coverage with the least impact."

A spokeswoman from BT Cellnet said there was no evidence to suggest there were dangers surrounding masts.

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