MOBILE phone masts are to be built on Brighouse Parish Church, in a move one critic has slammed as desecration.

Calderdale Council's Planning Committee yesterday approved proposals for Hutchison 3G to erect a series of masts on top of Grade II listed St Martin's.

Independent Brighouse councillor Colin Stout was furious.

He said it was virtually desecration.

The three antennae, each 1.7m tall, will broadcast to the latest generation of powerful mobile video phones.

Clr Stout asked how a church could sanction masts that could be used for disseminating all types of material.

"It could be pornographic," he said.

"The Home Office themselves have said they expect quite a lot of porn coming down though these things. We are going to have porn in the parish.

"This vicar and the church wardens have decimated the inside of the church by ripping out pews.

"Now they are decimating the exterior allowing not one but three masts.

"They have taken their 30 pieces of silver and I hope they enjoy putting their children's and other people's health at risk."

The church will receive an income of thousands of pounds every year from Hutchison.

The vicar of Brighouse the Rev Michael Wood said many people would not object to the masts.

"I think the majority of people in the community are not bothered either way," he said.

He discounted moral objections to the antennae.

"You can pick up any ordinary telephone and receive obscene calls.

"Hutchison have said they are working to reduce this and I simply hope that is the case," he added.

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