MOBILE telephone giants Vodafone and Telefonica say they take concerns over public safety seriously after residents in Horton rallied against extensions to a mast in the village.

Horton Parish Council and neighbouring residents said they had “serious health concerns”

over the application seeking to add more antennae to the fixture at Nyworthy Farm.

Last week, the News reported that neighbours on Pottery Road were battling against the applica - tion, 13 years after similar proposals were thrown out, and a petition has since been submitted to the Local Planning Authority.

But the mobile companies have moved to reassure local residents.

In a submission to South Somerset District Council the applicant said: “We recognise that the growth in mobile technology has led in some cases to public concern about perceived health effects of mobile technology and its deployment, in particular about siting masts close to local communities. Quite naturally, the public seeks reassurance that they are not harmful or dangerous.

“We take these public concerns seriously and are committed to providing the latest independent peer-reviewed research findings, information, advice and guidance from national and international agencies.

“Vodafone and Telefonica ensure that our radio base stations are designed and operated so that the public are not exposed to radio frequency fields above the guidelines set by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).

“Radio base stations operate at low power and emit low levels of radio frequency fields.”

A final decision on the plans is due to be made by May 15.