ONE of York's most distinctive church spires could soon house a mobile phone transmitter, in a deal that could secure the troubled building's future.

Telecommunications firm T-Mobile (UK) wants to install three antennae in the tower of St Laurence's Church, in Lawrence Street, and two equipment cabinets in its grounds.

The Grade II Listed Building, one of a handful of its kind left in the north, was saved from demolition in 2003 thanks to a £300,000 revamp backed by English Heritage.

Churchwarden Brian Fletcher said the agreement with T-Mobile would be an important source of income.

"It is almost essential for the church for the future as expenses go up and congregations tend to decline," he said. "It will help to preserve the church for future generations." The body of the St Laurence's was built in the 1880s, with the spire and tower clock added in 1893. The church replaced a smaller building from the Norman, Medieval and later periods, the tower of which remains in the churchyard.

Neighbouring residents have been sent letters by City of York Council informing them of the application.

Larry Taylor, of Barbican Mews, said he was firmly opposed to the plans and hoped to launch a formal opposition campaign.

"From a selfish point of view, it will devalue my property, but I also believe it is immoral for the Church of England to be using their spires throughout the land as phone stations. It should be creating moral standards.

"We still don't know everything about the intensity of the radiation these masts create," he said.

Fishergate ward councillor Andy D'Agorne said concealing the mast within the spire was preferable to similar applications in the city. "But from a heath point of view, there are concerns," he said.

A T-Mobile spokesman told the Evening Press: "Based on over 40 years of research, T-Mobile is confident that its base stations, operating within strict national and international guidelines recognised by the World Health Organisation, do not present a health risk to any member of the public."

Installing the antennae inside the church spire also met with Government guidelines on reducing the visual impact of masts, he said.

It was reported in Tuesday's Evening Press that T-Mobile has also put forward a scheme to install a near ten-metre high mast at the corner of High Ousegate and Parliament Street, close to the ancient church of All Saints'.

Anyone with comments about the planning proposal for St Laurence's Church must make them in writing to City of York Council before February 2, quoting reference number 05/00014/FUL. The contract with T-Mobile is being negotiated on the church's behalf by an independent company and it has not been revealed how much it will be worth.

Updated: 10:09 Friday, January 21, 2005