A FATHER-OF-TWO may put a large metal shield in his front garden after government inspectors gave the thumbs up to a mobile phone mast just yards from his four-year-old daughter's bedroom.

Grant Hopkins, of Marlow Bottom, says he will either sell his home or apply for permission to build the shield to reflect any potentially harmful microwaves from the Orange 25ft mast.

Mr Hopkins said: "We might be in the Greenbelt but if Orange can put a great big mast in the middle of it, I don't see why I can't put a shield up to protect my family."

Residents around the junction of Ragmans Lane and Marlow Bottom, where the mast is set to go, initially celebrated after Wycombe District Council threw out Orange's application last October, voting 15 to one against.

However, the Government's planning inspectorate overruled the decision on appeal.

Mr Hopkins, 44, whose home is in the Greenbelt and borders on an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, said Orange could put a mast just 200 yards away from the proposed site where it would be concealed by trees and away from homes.

He added: "They ruin people's lives because they want to put up a mast in the cheapest place possible. Those waves will come into my young child's bedroom while she sleeps."

District councillor Malcolm Blanksby (Marlow Bottom Ind) who lives in Marlow Bottom, was at last October's meeting when the application was thrown out.

He said: "I'm very disappointed that the appeal has been successful because of the strength of feeling on the subject."

A spokesman for Orange said: "This is a microcell transmitter which is very low powered with a very limited range. We chose sites that meet our technical needs, our customers coverage requirements and that comply with planning and environmental regulations."

Residents have six weeks to appeal against the decision but the appeal must be based on technical or legal grounds.