People living close to the Broadfield Arms on Leyland Lane, Leyland, including the landlord Sandra Chester, were furious that Vodafone had applied to put up the communications mast in front of the pub.

However, after the group of disgruntled homeowners campaigned against the plans and wrote letters of objection to the council, South Ribble planning officers turned it down.

Mrs Chester said: "We've received a letter from the council informing us of their decision.

"Everybody is ecstatic that the council are not allowing the mast to be put up and that the application has been rejected.

"Vodafone could appeal – but we would fight it all over again.

"For this application we sent in a petition arguing it would impact on people locally, the environment and it would have been an eyesore for the neighbours. It is a good sign our concerns were listened to. It's fantastic it is now not going ahead. There are better locations, more secluded and more appropriate."

Government planning legislation states that masts under 15m high will be granted general planning permission without the need for council approval.

The residents feared that because the proposed mast was under 15m high, the plans would be passed without them having the chance to object.

Chairman of South Ribble Council's planning committee, Coun Jon Hesketh, said: "The application was refused because the monopole in front of the Broadfield Arms would have had a negative effect on living conditions."

A Vodafone spokesman said: "Vodafone have a requirement to improve the 3G coverage for our customers and to achieve this we need to install a new base station."

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