Darras Hall residents' O2 mast victory is not final

But it later transpired that the refusal was invalid because it did not happen within the required 56 days of the application being received.

The blunder left O2 free to go ahead and install the mast - but the company agreed to hold talks with the council and then came up with an alternative plan to site a 15-metre-high pole 215 metres along The Broadway.

That new site provoked a fresh storm of protest, with more than 300 local people and businesses putting their names to letters of objection and a petition.

Council officers recommended their west area planning committee refuse the proposal and at its meeting at Hexham, members voted unanimously against the application.

O2 was yesterday unaware of the decision until contacted by The Journal and said it would not comment until receiving official notification from the council. But the firm last week said it would consider all options available to it if the plan was refused.

Yesterday Vivienne Whyte, 66, of Darras Mews, pictured, who has led the residents' protest campaign, said she was very pleased with the committee's decision.

But she admitted to fearing the company will proceed with the default approval, or appeal against the refusal. She said: "The battle is not over yet. We will be prepared to keep complaining as long as it takes."

O2 claims it requires a mast in the centre of Darras Hall to improve 3G mobile coverage in the area, and has examined six other possible sites but rejected them for technical or physical reasons.