A planning expert has defended plans to refuse five mobile phone masts in Brighton and Hove.

Danny Simmonds, managing director of RPS, the largest firm of town planning consultants in the UK, called for stricter regulations to control the siting of masts following a landmark ruling which has given local authorities greater confidence in refusing such proposals.

Mr Simmonds, of The Beeches in Brighton, spoke to Brighton and Hove planning committee on Wednesday about plans for a mast near his home.

Councillors refused this application and four others on a mixture of health and environmental grounds against the advice of officers.

Acting chairman Bob Carden warned colleagues they could lose appeals by mobile phone companies and land a hefty bill for costs.

However, Mr Simmonds did not believe this to be so.

The city council based its ruling on a decision by the Court of Appeal. A judgment by Lord Justice Schiemann contradicted existing Government guidelines, which say objections on health grounds from people living near these masts are not a valid reason for rejecting an application.

Mr Simmonds said the test case in Lambeth had given new hope and should give local authorities greater confidence to reject proposals.

The committee has to decide on another batch of mast applications at its next meeting on August 13.

Coun Carden said: "I voted for the masts, going on the advice I had received from our planning and legal officers.

"We had been consistent about these masts and now we have suddenly changed our stance.

"It will all depend in the end about whether we end up winning or losing a case at a public inquiry."