The 30ft mast which resembles a lamp post, has been installed by mobile phone company O2 on the new leisure centre site next to Newmarket College.

Jim Stevenson, community liaison manager for O2, claimed the company had written to nearby residents telling them the mast was going to be put up.

But residents contacted by the Journal said they had received nothing, while some did not even realise the new structure was a phone mast.

Graham Griffiths said: "I find it amazing that a mast has been put up outside a school given the current worries concerning the health risks attached to them."

Neighbour Jim Slee said: "We had no idea the mast was going up. We have received nothing through the post. I will be contacting the council."

Asked if O2 had planning consent for the mast, Mr Stevenson said the company's agent had been in touch with the local planning authority, Forest Heath Council for permission to site on Exning Road.

But because the council did not responded to the application within the designated 56 day period, O2 was legally entitled to put up the mast.

Richard Watson, head of Forest Heath's planning services, admitted the authority had made a mistake. "When the application came in we did not register it and because we did not reply within the designated period the applicant had the right to put the mast up.

"The situation is irretrievable and there is nothing we can do about it. It is an unfortunate error and we have taken steps to make sure it does not happen again."