Vodafone unexpectedly turned up to the corner of Sapcote and Grange Drives to start work on Saturday but residents are planning to prevent it happening.

Lyn Summerland who lives opposite the site said: "Why does it have to go here, why can't it go in a field? It is just ridiculous to put it here. I've got two grandchildren who live across the road, I don't want them to grow up with cancer.

"I know they say there is no proof it causes problems, but there isn't any proof they don't."

And neighbour Karen Foster said: "What really gets me is the way it has gone through. There was a petition signed by 250 people, lots of people wrote letters, the shops have rejected it and the schools all complained.

"That should all count for something but apparently not, it's been railroaded through. We are the ones that live here, not the business people, we have to put up with it. And we're prepared to set up a tent and stay here until they give up."

An application last year was thrown out when it was revealed the land belonged to Bargain Booze but Vodafone re-submitted the plans on Highways Agency land which has been approved by Melton Council on Tuesday.

Ward councillor Frank Moore Coltman said: "Government guidelines make it pretty much impossible to refuse a phone mast application, which is why it went through. The success of the protest depends on how determined they are, I think it could be possible."

Dr Rob Matthews, from Vodafone said: "We recognise some communities are concerned regarding the deployment of radio base stations within residential areas but without radio base stations, mobile phones will not be able to work.

"All of our base stations are designed, built and operated in accordance with stringent international guidelines laid down by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection."

He added that the research was backed by the World Health Organisation and this was the best site in the area.