Angry residents are preparing to fight another bid to install a mobile phone mast near their homes.

The first application for the 10-metre mast near Randiddles Close, Wickham Hill, Hurstpierpoint, was thrown out after an avalanche of protest.

Mid Sussex District Council received 65 letters of objection and a petition with 30 signatures.

A further petition of 29 signatures was handed to planning committee members at the meeting last September.

But planning officer Peter Rainier warned Orange might be successful if it chose to appeal, which has now happened.

Melvyn Tarran, who lives in Randiddles Close, next to the proposed site, said: "We are back to square one. I think it is outrageous after having gone to all that trouble of getting it turned down, they can now appeal."

Residents were concerned about the potential health risks and fear the mast is too close to a road where there have been a number of accidents.

They also feared it would devalue their homes and did not see the need for another mast because they said they already had good reception in the area.

Nobody from Orange was available to comment.