A MOBILE phone service provider says it is considering its options after its planning application for a mast near Upton was turned down.

Vodafone, based at Newbury, Berkshire, applied to put the 15-metre mast and its equipment at Portmans Farm, Newbridge Green, just outside the town.

The plan was supported by Upton Town Council and by the Upton Town Partnership, which said: "The improvement in signal strength and coverage is vital for the local community and essential for the development of business. We support this application and any other efforts to improve the strength and coverage of the telecoms

signals within the town".

Malvern Hills District Council's own economic development team said : "This scheme will make a positive contribution to overall coverage in the area including providing an enhanced level of service covering Ofcom not-spots identified in Upton and at Tunnel Hill."

But a number of residents of Tunnel Hill and Newbridge Green objected, saying that the proposed mast would be an eyesore in the rural landscape.

And council planners decided to refuse the application after hearing that the building of the mast could have an adverse impact of wildlife, particularly badgers and great crested newts, near the proposed site.

A Vodafone spokesman said: "Vodafone and O2 customers expect to be able to use their mobiles and devices where they live, work and travel.

"Base stations are low-powered devices which only cover approximately half a mile in radius and therefore we have to put base stations close to our customers.

"We have identified that we need to improve the coverage to our customers in Upton upon Severn and applied for a base station at Portmans Farm.

"We were disappointed that the local planning authority refused the application and are considering our options in the local area."