A communications company has defended plans to erect a 50ft phone mast in a residential area.

Residents of Buckhurst Way in Buckhurst Hill spoke out last week after discovering the public notice, which alerted them of plans to build a PHA Comms Telefonica station with a mast and four boxes, rolled and taped to a lamppost.

The mast would be the height of three-and-a-half double-decker buses and yards from homes.

Despite no conclusive evidence that such masts are bad for health, residents raised concern over the long-term effects on children after learning that the mast would be capable of transmitting signals 20 miles away.

A spokesman for PHA Comms said that the plan followed the discovery that coverage in the area needed to be improved.

He said: "Vodafone and Telefonica customers expect to be able to use their mobiles and devices where they live, work and travel.  

"We have identified that we need to improve the coverage to our customers in Buckhurst Hill, Essex and have proposed a new base station at Buckhurst Way. 

"We have consulted with the local community via letters to houses adjacent to the proposed site and notices in the local area as well as asking the ward and parish councillors for comments. 

"We are currently considering the results of this consultation."

A planning application for the mast has not yet been submitted.