CRITICS of plans to substantially increase radiation from a mobile phone mast have warned that it is only yards from a Harpenden primary school.

District councillor Judy Shardlow, who sits on the committee which refused the application by Orange for new equipment on an existing mast in Shakespeare Road, Harpenden, is sure the company will appeal.

She said: "This nearly crept in through the back door.

"This is a densely populated area, with family homes, and Crabtree Primary School is nearby."

She said Orange had admitted the proposed new equipment on top of a water tower would increase radiation by 40 per cent only after councillors and planning officers had queried the application.

The radiation will still be well within official safety guidelines, but the committee has refused planning consent on the grounds of failure to consult with local people - an approach likely to be challenged at a public inquiry.

Councillor Shardlow said: "How can we say that the public have been properly consulted about this application when they do not have the full facts?

"Orange has identified the site as one which is very sensitive and which therefore requires high levels of consultation.

"So why do we find that residents and the local primary school have not been consulted?

"I would urge local residents to contact the council's planning team to push for full information about this application and a thorough local consultation."

Orange spokesman Martin Grey said the increased radiation would still be only 0.028 per cent of official safety levels, which were supported by more than 30 independent scientific studies.

He said the company had still not decided whether to appeal against the council's decision.