RESIDENTS fighting a campaign against next-generation mobile phone masts in Churt have highlighted new studies which raise significant new health threats.

The Churt Mast Action Group has pointed to studies by Dutch experts revealing exposure to 3G mast transmitters could cause headaches, tingling sensations and nausea.

For the last year, mobile companies have been rolling out their new technology, which allows phones to transmit pictures and connect to the internet. These systems operate at much higher frequencies, drawing concern that this lies at the centre of health implications uncovered by national media last week.

Angered by the Vodaphone proposals, John Leaning of Churt Mast Action Group, who lives close to its proposed site in Lampard Lane off the A287, said: "We are very angered by this, and there are several other applications going in for this area. More research has to be done and I hope that the UK follows up on the Dutch studies.

"We have been in touch with the borough council, but they say they have to follow government guidelines which state you are not allowed to object to masts on health grounds. But we are hoping they will listen now.

"Orange have been trying to pull the wool over people's eyes with this, as its application appears to be for a second generation mast, but is in fact for 3G."

He added that the action group believed Vodaphone would be using the Churt application as a precursor to future applications in the borough.

A public meeting on the issue attended by more than 100 people last month, demonstrated the level of concern. The mast's location close to the much-used village green and hall were flagged up as prime concerns.

Owner of the proposed site, Guy Bach, insisted residents were playing on "fear factor" and said none of the horses stabled near two nearby mast sites showed any ill effects. However, the campaign has received strong political support from MP Virginia Bottomley and SW Surrey prospective Tory parliamentary candidate Jeremy Hunt.

He said: "I think it's important more research is done to find out exactly what the health implications are as lots of people are very worried by it.

"There is also the environmental consideration. Having 3G masts every four miles will have a huge impact on countryside and our villages. I would not want to live right under a mast and understand why people in Churt are concerned."

A spokesman for Vodaphone recently refuted the claim that 3G masts gave off any more emissions than older masts. She said in many cases their radio-wave output was actually less, and that its masts complied with international standards.

The mast application is due to be considered by Waverley Borough Council next month.