Protesters were asked to move by police so the site could be cleared

Police had to ask the placard-waving protesters, who live near Byron Avenue in Winchester, Hampshire, to leave to allow work to begin at the site.

The protest came after residents, worried about potential health dangers, launched a High Court battle.

Mast owner Orange said such concerns were not backed by scientific evidence.

There is plenty of evidence that it causes severe health effects for people - whatever Orange and the Government say Resident Karen Barratt

Angry resident Karen Barratt said: "We think it absolutely disgusting that this mast is going up.

"There is plenty of evidence that it causes severe health effects for people - whatever Orange and the Government say.

Resident Karen Barratt fears her grandchildren are at risk

"It's far too close to the school and our children, my grandchildren are being put at risk."

The residents' challenge had been brought in the names of two children that live near the mast - Phoebe St Leger-Davey, six, and seven-year-old James Harrison.

Lawyers for the children had told the court that they lived and went to school within 250 to 300 metres of the mast site and within the "zone of greatest intensity of electromagnetic emissions".

'Insufficient scientific evidence'

But the Court of Appeal dismissed a challenge in December against a High Court judge's refusal to review government consent for the mast.

The case was also taken to the House of Lords but residents were refused leave to appeal.

Carmel O'Hara from Orange said its sites meet international guidelines

Carmel O'Hara, from Orange, said: "Their concerns about health are not substantiated by any scientific evidence at this time.

"All our sites meet the strictest international guidelines.

"Each of the High Court cases have been dismissed and therefore our consent has stood. We feel that it is time for us to implement the consent."

But another resident vowed: "We will pursue this and we will get that decision overturned."