Campaigners - including a former Mr Universe - have lost their battle to stop a mobile phone mast being built near their homes.

The Government's Planning Inspectorate has upheld an appeal by Vodaphone against Southend Council's refusal of planning permission to site the mast in Churchill Gardens.

The campaign against the mast was led by residents Ben Read and bodybuilder Roy Perrott, who won the Mr Universe title in 1968.

While protesters and the council said the site was too close to homes, the inspector ruled trees in the area would screen residents from emissions from the mast.

Mr Read said residents had been shocked to discover while Vodaphone had twice been able to appeal against the council's decision, there was no opportunity for protesters to get the inspector's ruling overturned.

"It's completely undemocratic," he said. "The only way we can appeal is to get the council to appeal on our behalf and that would be via the High Court.

"It would be very unlikely for the council to appeal, because of the expense if it were to lose."

Churchcill Gardens was the wrong place for a phone mast, Mr Read added.

"There is a tremendous amount of wildlife in the park," he explained. "In summer it's like an adventure play park for kids.

"The health issues are foremost in people's minds here. People live with anxiety of not knowing what effects this mast will have.

"There are also concerns about house prices and what will happen to the area if people don't want to live here."

Mr Read said it seemed the protesters were being denied their human rights because they could not a further appeal on the issue.

He said the inspector had made no comment about the possible health risks of the mast or its effect on badgers living in Churchill Gardens.

Under Government guidelines, authorities are not allowed to take the possible health impact into consideration when deciding on planning applications for phone masts.

Vodaphone declined to comment on the inspector's decision.