RESIDENTS in Wootton Bassett have branded a proposed phone mast a complete monstrosity.

The mast, on railway land behind New Road, would be 33 metres, or more than 100 feet high.

The plan has angered residents because they say they were not consulted on the mast, which can be put up without planning permission, despite being four times the size of the tallest house in the vicinity.

The first that people living in New Road knew about the plan for the giant mast was when North Wiltshire District Council sent out a letter for information to people living nearby.

Immediately families started a petition and rallied support in the hope of persuading Network Rail to rethink the plan.

Richard Penning, of Pennstones, whose house would be directly in front of the mast, and Keith Crump, of New Road, have led the campaign.

Mr Crump said: "We have had a 100 per cent positive response from the public.

"People are worried about their houses being devalued round here.

"We don't know the health implications of these masts yet and that is very worrying."

Campaigners have already sent a petition against the mast to Network Rail, which has been signed by 375 objectors.

North Wiltshire district councillor Steve Bucknell believes the mast could stop plans to reopen Wootton Bassett station.

He said: "The proposal is to put the mast on the site of the station which I have been trying to get reopened.

"I think there are grounds for saying that we shouldn't have the mast there because that site is protected.

"North Wiltshire District Council has said that it will not have any masts on council owned land, so I don't think it is a good idea here."

The campaigners have also been supported by the Mayor Peter Roberts.

He said: "There is a great strength of feeling from residents as you can see from the petition.

"There has been no consultation about this, and the proposed mast is an absolute monstrosity.

"It is just an eyesore that is going to be put up there.

"We want our railway station to be reopened instead. This is what is more important."

Mr Penning said: "Network Rail's response to our petition was to come back and say it will consider placing the mast somewhere else in the area.

"But we will continue to make a nuisance of ourselves until it does.

"The fact that Network Rail has reconsidered it at all, is really quite encouraging."

Another resident who is backing the anti-mast campaign is Val Watson.

She said that placing a mast in such a populated area would be set a very unwelcome precedent.

"They could not put it any closer to our houses; even the tallest tree would not mask it," she said.