The radio mast will be used by North Wales Police

Plans for a 15ft police radio mast near a school and homes in a picturesque village have met opposition from residents who claim it is a threat to their health.

Many people in Beddgelert are angry that Snowdonia National Park Authority has granted planning permission for the Terrestrial Trunked Radio, or Tetra - mast.

It would be built by O2 Airwave for North Wales Police on top of the Royal Goat Hotel.

But the company said there was no evidence to support worries about safety.

One protestor, Chris Crook, claimed electromagnetic radiation from the mast could lead to various health problems.

"Every day the more we find out about it, the more scared we are about it," he said.

Another resident, Freda Macdonald, said: "The principal concern is the fact that the mast is being erected within 500 metres of the local school.

"Many of the families of the children who attend the school actually live in closer proximity than the school itself."

She called for the mast to be sited away from homes.

Josh Berle, of O2 Airwave, said the company would press ahead.

He said: "Scientists have come out and reinforced the very, very strong view worldwide that there is no evidence of any particular concern in relation to this technology.

'Save lives'

"There is no evidence of health risks of any kind as long as you operate with established safety guidelines.

The rear of the hotel where the mast is due to be erected

He referred to the 18 cockle pickers who died on Friday after becoming trapped by rising tides in Lancashire's Morecambe Bay by saying the mast could end up saving lives in the event of an emergency in Snowdonia.

He said: "Airwave enables emergency organisations to inter operate and talk to each other much more quickly in incidents such as the one in Morecambe Bay overnight and ultimately save lives.

"It is a tried and tested technology and we already have some 2,500 transmitters across the UK."

Aled Sturkey, chief planning officer for the Snowdonia National Park Authority, said: "Regarding health - we received the appropriate certificates according to the governments' guidelines.

Mr Sturkey said he was satisfied the authority had dealt with the application correctly.