MORE than 100 people gathered to protest against a 40ft phone mast put up despite being refused planning permission.

And the crowd at the site of the mast at the Market Street precinct in Little Lever had a clear message for T-Mobile - take it down.

The protest, led by local councillors Sean Hornby and Tony Connell, attracted TV crews and was also attended by Bolton South-east MP Dr Brian Iddon and scores of angry residents.

The mast, which is outside Cohen's Chemist and just two feet from a bus stop, was put up on Sunday morning, despite being refused permission in April by Bolton Council's planning committee.

But the move sparked fury among residents and workmen downed tools when police were called by Cllr Hornby, who is also chairman of the committee.

The council has now served an enforcement notice, demanding that the mast be removed.

Resident David Webb, aged 34, said: "I hope T-Mobile will think again when they see the strength of opposition at this protest.

"It's not as if this mast is out the way. It is in your face and is so close to were people walk. It is outside a chemist and near to a bus stop, health centre and schools."

Mr Webb, of Paramel Avenue, runs the www.littlelever.info website where a petition against the mast has attracted 100 'signatures'.

Yvonne Laidlaw, aged 54, of Jessop Forge, added: "I'm on T-Mobile at the moment but now I am going to change my network.

"I'm not happy because something we did not want has just been thrust upon us."

Cllr Hornby said: "I'm very pleased with the turn-out, which is more than we expected.

"It shows the strength of feeling and people are asking how a big company can do this?"

Cllr Connell added that T-Mobile had "ridden-roughshod" over people.

Dr Iddon said he was "disgusted" with the company. "I shall be taking this up with the planning minister Yvette Cooper and the planning inspectorate at Bristol," he said.

The planning committee refused to approve the mast in April because of the visual impact and the absence of a certificate showing it met emissions guidelines.

But T-Mobile claims the council failed to follow guidelines requiring it to notify the company of its decision within 56 days of the plans being submitted.

That is denied by the council which says it sent a decision both in writing and by fax, pointing out that company representatives were at the planning meeting.

T-Mobile also insisted it sent the correct certification and said it had consulted ward councillors, a nursery and a local school about the mast before the committee made its decision.

It has said it will not remove the mast, meaning a Government inspector is now likely to decide whether it can stay at a public inquiry.