A mobile phone company has earmarked more than a dozen sites for new telecommunications masts.

T-Mobile says it needs the masts to roll out its 3G network, which allows users to access video clips on their handsets.

But people in Hanover, Brighton, have reacted angrily to a proposal to put up a mast just 200 metres from a school.

They say the site, on the corner of Queens Park Road and Pankhurst Avenue, is in the middle of a busy residential area and that not enough is known about the health risks.

The installations, being handled by Marconi APT, is still in its early stages. None of the sites have been confirmed and no applications have been submitted.

But Joyce Edmond-Smith, who represents Hanover and Elm Grove on Brighton and Hove City Council, said: "I have had so many people ringing me and sending me letters I have already written to Marconi to say I object. I am trying to find out what powers there might be to stop it.

"The evidence is not clear enough to assure people there are no health problems and they wish to take a precautionary approach."

Coun Edmond-Smith said many parents whose children attended St Luke's junior and infant schools in nearby Queen's Park Rise and St Luke's Terrace, were unhappy.

She pointed to the council's policy on masts, which states: "The council will not normally grant consent on or near schools or on residential premises."

She said: "This is not on a school or residential premises but it's very near."

The proposed site in Hanover is controlled by the Highways Agency. But even though the mast is less than 15 metres tall and would not require conventional planning permission, the company must still apply for a form of permission known as "prior approval".

Paul Bonett, secretary of the Queen's Park and Craven Vale Action Group, said neighbours would fight the application.

He said: "We are worried about the possible radiation effects of telecommunication masts just 20ft away from houses.

"If they are going to be put up they should be away from residential areas unless there is absolute scientific proof there are no health risks from them."

Mum-of-three Cathy Warden, who lives in St Luke's Road, just 50m from the proposed site, said: "We are going to be living close to the mast and the children will be going to school close to the mast. I'm concerned about the health risks."

Ms Warden has also helped to collect 150 signatures against the proposal.

Also under consideration are three sites in Dyke Road, Brighton, the corner of Sackville Road and Blatchington Road in Hove, Portland Road opposite Portland Villas in Hove, Norton Road in Hove, New Church Road in Hove, the corner of The Drive and The Upper Drive in Hove, the corner of Hangleton Road and Nevill Avenue in West Blatchington, Fox Way opposite Harebell Drive in Portslade, Victoria Road in Portslade, the corner of Ditchling Road and Stanford Avenue in Hollingdean, and Coldean Lane in Coldean.

Jonathan Walton from Marconi APT said the company was carrying out a full consultation and said neighbours' comments would be taken into account.

The number and location of mast sites were still open to negotiation and he hoped to present his final proposals to a full meeting of the city council.

A spokesman for T-Mobile said: "T-Mobile understands there can be concerns when locating base stations in and around communities and we are keen to address these issues.

"However these do need to be considered in a broader context.

"Our network is a low power radio system with signal strengths similar to and often lower than those we experience in our homes every day from broadcast radio and television and other sources.

"The use of mobile phones in the UK has grown at a phenomenal rate in recent years with approximately 55 million now in use. To keep pace with this growth, T-Mobile, like all other operators, needs to develop its network to increase its capacity and develop the range of services it provides."