East Sussex County Council has joined the list of local authorities to ban mobile phone masts from its land.

Councillors have voted 19-18 in favour of stopping new masts being built on council land until research proves they are safe.

They also agreed to urge school governors to follow suit and ban masts from their premises.

The ban will not mean the removal of existing masts, such as those at County Hall in Lewes, Hampden Park School in Eastbourne, Helenswood Upper School in Hastings and Ringmer Community College in Ringmer.

West Sussex, Brighton and Hove and Hastings councils have already banned masts from their land, as has Kent County Council.

It is feared exposure to radio frequency radiation from the masts and mobile phone handsets might cause health problems, especially in children.

An expert investigation last year led by Sir William Stewart found no evidence to support these fears but concluded more research was needed.

Councillor Jay Kramer, who put forward the motion on behalf of the Labour group, said told the meeting at Pelham House in Lewes: "There is no guarantee or insurance there are no health risks from masts.

"This is about safety and the fact is we do not know the long term effects of these masts on the health of our communities."

The motion was opposed by many Conservative councillors, who said it did not make sense to ban mobile phone masts from council land when they could still be put up on privately-owned properties.

Coun Simon Sinnatt said: "We need mobile phone coverage across this county. There is an inevitable pressure for masts to go up somewhere.

"With this move we are saying it is safe for a local business to have a mobile phone mast on top of its building, affecting its workers, but it is not safe for us to have one on council land."

Council leader David Rogers said: "We all know from the letters we have received on this issue and the action taken by other local authorities this remains a matter of great public concern."