RESIDENTS in the Warndon area of Worcester who have petitioned against the building of a phone mast may have lost their fight.

Planning officers at Worcest-er City Council have recommended that prior approval is given to an application by mobile phone giant O2 to install a 12.5m telegraph pole with shrouded antennas and a radio equipment housing outside the Prince of Wales pub in Windermere Drive.

Residents in the area have signed two petitions opposing the mast.

Madge Cooper, who lives opposite the pub, organised one of the petitions.

She said: "I got about 60 signatures. They are all from the local area.

"Everyone I went to was willing to sign it."

Mrs Cooper, aged 69, said her message to the planning committee was simple. "How would they like it next to their house? They would vote against it."

Glenys Pegg, landlady of the Prince of Wales, also organised a petition in the pub and it was signed by more than 100 of her customers.

However, she wasn't surprised that planning officers had recommended prior approval to be given for the mast to be built.

She said: "I feel sorry for the people who live across the road from the pub. They have got to look at it."

The city council's planning meeting is due to take place at the Guildhall on Thursday, September 21.