Parents protest with banners and placards about proposed 15m high phone mast outside Baines Endowed School in Thornton Cleveleys

Campaigners say that if the outline application is passed by Wyre planners, the 15m high 5G mast would loom over the outdoor learning area at Thornton Cleveleys Baines Endowed Primary School, where it would be out of keeping with the local scene.

So far more than 120 people have objected by adding their names to the planning portal on Wyre Council’s website.

On Friday (March 27) a large group of campaigners, including parents, pupils and residents, gathered outside the primary school on School Road, waving banners and placards, to raise awareness of their objections and encourage others who do not know about it to add their names.

The deadlines for objections is Tuesday March 28.

The application, which will be dealt with only by Wyre’s planning officer and not the committee, has been lodged by CEP Telecoms Ltd, of Leeds, on behalf of CK Hutchinson Networks (UK) Ltd, owner of the mobile network Three.

Among those campaigning is Thornton mum Eve MacPhee, 43, who lives close to the school and has three children who attend there, aged four, nine and 10.

She said: “The juxtaposition of children studying nature and sitting in a canvas tent in the outdoor learning area, under the shadow of a huge mast, is just so wrong.

"They are supposed to be learning about natural things – and there would be this massive structure overlooking them, like something from War of the Worlds.

"I know these things have got to go somewhere but surely this is not a suitable place, it’s just perverse.

"There are a number of different issues to this – apart from concerns about possible health implications.

"We are protesting outside the school to show these large axle communications companies that trying to get these things through next to schools is completely unreasonable.”

"We are encouraged by the fact that Crosby School in Sefton managed to get theirs overturned by protesting about it – it’s about local democracy and children having rights as citizens.”

The campaigners believe that by fighting the proposals they will be able to persuade the planning officer to refuse the application -and ultimately persuade Hutchinson to site the mast somewhere else, where it would not be next to a school.

Aside from the mast, the structure would also include a wrap-around equipment cabinet at the base of it.

Coun Ken Minto, a Wyre councillor for Stanah, and County Coun John Shedwick, are supporting the residents.

Coun Minto said: “Because these masts don’t need full planning applications, they don’t come under the criteria needed for councillors to call them in and have them discussed by the planning committee.

"The responsibility falls on the planning officer.

"There are other nearby sites which would be far more suitable.”

Those who want to object to the plans are advised to contact Wyre Council by emailing [email protected].

A Three spokesperson said: “5G rollout is vital for residents and businesses of Thornton. "We want to offer the community a reliable network experience and a new site will be critical to making that happen.

"Masts need to be situated where people will be using the service and, in many cases, in precise locations to ensure the widest breadth of coverage.

"We also take our obligation to run a safe network very seriously.”