Residents are furious at plans to put up a 16m mobile phone mast amid fears about possible health risks.

Onezone Personal Communications wants to put up the telecommunications pole plus equipment cabins and antennae on the BT Tec site off Old Shoreham Road in Hove.

Neighbours from Amherst Crescent, Milcote Avenue, Holmes Avenue and Elm Drive say the mast could cause health problems and would be an eyesore.

Brighton and Hove Council planning officer Liz Hobden is recommending councillors to approve the scheme at a meeting on Wednesday. She said the pole would be at least 85m from homes and the area already had some commercial development.

She added that the Government has not issued new guidelines on any health implications from mobile phone masts. She said: "The balance of evidence indicates there is no general risk to the health of people living near to base stations."

There have also been strong objections to plans for a new tower by One-2-One Personal Communications at Woodingdean Reservoir off Norton Drive, Brighton.

Although the tower would be the same height as an existing one, it would carry more equipment.

Woodingdean councillor Pamela Stiles said she was concerned about "the encircling nature of mobile phone masts around the village".

Fellow ward councillor Geoff Wells said: "The proposed dish antenna is almost 9ft in diameter and will be a massive blot on the skyline.

"It will be an eyesore visible across an area of outstanding natural beauty for many, many miles."

The Society of Sussex Downsmen also wants the application refused.

The proposed tower, which would improve reception in Woodingdean, is also being recommended for approval by the planning committee.