A mobile phone mast is set to be put up at a beauty spot near Chichester.

The 15-metre tower and equipment cabin will go next to a Southern Water sewage treatment works in Chichester Harbour, an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB).

Parish councillors from the Southbourne area have objected, saying the site is also close to an area of special scientific interest.

The parish council has been told there have been objections from two other people living in the area on the grounds the mast would spoil the AONB.

Mobile phone company One2One has told Chichester District Council the site was chosen after it had permission refused by the owners of three other sites in the harbour area.

The list included Thorney Island, where a battalion of the Royal Engineers is based.

The bid was refused on security grounds by the Ministry of Defence.

District council planners are now being recommended to approve the mast at a meeting on Monday.

A report says the landscape surrounding the mast site has already been "degraded" to some extent by the treatment works.

It says: "On balance, your officers consider the proposed site is acceptable despite its presence in the area of outstanding natural beauty because of the need for the facility and there being no alternative suitable sites."