Grandfather Geoff Cherry has lost his fight to prevent a mobile phone mast from being set up next to a nursery school.

He wanted BT Cellnet to change its mind on putting a radio base and antennas on an electricity pylon at Views Farm, Little Milton.

He appealed to Tony Blair and his deputy John Prescott and to local MP Michael Heseltine for backing.

But now full planning permission for the installation has been given by South Oxfordshire District Council.

Mr Cherry, of Thame Road, said: "The chosen pylon is too close to the new pre-school building at the village hall.

"It is very sad that this permission has been given."

He said he felt the installations should be as far away from children as possible until it was clearly proved that radiation from them was not harmful.