YORKSHIRE Dales National Park Authority planners have approved an application to put two large antenna on St Margaret's Church in Hawes.

The decision to approve the two Vodafone telecommunications masts was taken only when the matter had been referred back to the committee after it previously resolved to refuse permission.

At the second meeting the committee was advised that its reasons for refusal were too weak and unlikely to be defendable on appeal.

Committee chairman Kevin Lancaster said: "This was a hard decision given the strength of local opposition to the application because of concerns over health risks.

Government guidance is clear in that mobile phone masts that operate within approved guidelines do not pose a risk to health and therefore this cannot be grounds for refusing an application of this type."