HISTORIANS in Droitwich are stepping up their campaign to rid the town's water tower of the "blackberry bush of cables" by demanding that an appeal by mobile phone giant Hutchinson 3G is thrown out.

The phone company is appealing against Wychavon District Council's decision not to allow it to put up any mobile phone equipment on the Yew Tree Hill tower.

The appeal is currently being dealt with by The Planning Inspectorate and Droitwich Spa Civic Society is now urging the inspectorate to dismiss it.

"The indifference of the tower owner to local views on how the impact of this landmark could be enhanced is very disappointing, but something we have come to expect." said society chairman Stuart Haywood.

In its letter to the inspectorate, the civic society has described the tower as a "blackberry bush of cables, aerials, crude access galleries and other thoughtlessly assembled gear with a collection of slum-like buildings at its base".

It states that the landmark, which can be seen from as far as the Malvern Hills to the south and Lickey Hills, to the north, has been "significantly degraded" by the amount of mobile phone paraphernalia on it and any more would lead to "the concealment of this elegant and remarkable structure".

Mr Haywood said that the society had offered a design scheme to conceal the masts to the owners and developers but had received no response.

Residents let out a sigh of relief when the original planning application was turned down at the end of September.

However, Hutchinson decided it still wanted to add dishes, antennas and a service cabin to the Newland Road tower.

Droitwich Town Council fully opposed the application and lobbied Wychavon to reject plans. It is backing the civic society's battle.

"I am not happy about it at all and we will fight it," said town council's planning committee chairman Coun Richard Morris.