RESIDENTS campaigning against mobile phone dishes are outraged at the response of telecommunications giant Orange to their fears about health risks.

Householders living near Toweridge Lane, High Wycombe, are protesting about the company's plans to add six antennae and three microwave dishes to an existing tower in the lane. Sarah Jones, spokesman for Transmission Tower Concern, said that the group had received a letter from Orange which filled them with dread.

She said that Orange had dismissed residents' concerns about health hazards as "misinformation generated by the media".

Sarah said: "This intransigence is very worrying. If we are going to achieve the sensible siting of masts, we need companies like Orange to be more flexible."

Sarah, who holds a doctorate in philosophy, said scientists at an Israeli university had found that exposure to microwave radiation can increase cancer in children and spontaneous abortions in women.

A spokesman for Orange said: "Orange takes its responsibility to customers and the public very seriously.

"There is no substantiated research which makes a link between radio waves, transmitter masts and long term health risks but Orange has always operated, and continues to operate within the stringent national standards set for radio networks by the NRPB (National Radiological Protection Board).

"If new substantiated research comes to light then we will review our situation."

A decision by Wycombe planners on Orange's Toweridge Lane plans is expected next month.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.