MOBILE phone giant Orange has put on hold its plan to switch on a controversial mast, after a tense stand-off between engineers and protesters.

The company said today it "had not made any plans to come back", although asserted its "legitimate rights" to do so at any time.

Leading anti-mast campaigner John Botting welcomed the delay, but said it was now important for everyone involved to "come to the table" and sort out the problem once and for all.

Police were called to idyllic Sheriff Hutton, in Ryedale, on Wednesday after subcontractors trying to connect the mast to the electricity mains were confronted by angry protesters.

After a heated four-hour stand-off, the workmen left without connecting the mast.

The mast was erected after a bungle by Ryedale District Council. The council had 56 days to object to the mast - but sent its objections in on the 57th day, meaning they had no legal force.

Although the mast was installed last year, it has not been turned on, and negotiations have been underway to find an alternative site for it.

Gary Housden, Ryedale's planning chief, told protesters there was nothing the council could do to stop the work going ahead - but said he was "disappointed" at Orange's actions.

Now an Orange spokesman has told The Press: "We are in negotiations with Ryedale District Council as to alternative locations for a mast in Sheriff Hutton, and we will continue to work with the council and look at all suggested alternatives.

"We are now in the process of trying to arrange a meeting with the council to look at these alternatives, and that is due to take place in three or four weeks.

"However, we have always been very clear from the start that it was our intention to connect the legitimate mast at some point and we are still within our legitimate rights to do that. That hasn't changed. We have not made any plans at this moment to come back."

But Mr Botting said: "Is that a guarantee? We thought we had some sort of agreement they were going to inform Ryedale District Council of any work - and that hasn't happened.

"However, I don't really care about all that. All I want everyone to do is to sit down around the table in a professional manner to discuss their options, and come to some agreement which fits everybody.

"I don't want Orange to lose out. We are not against the technology, we are just against the siting of this mast."

'Better coverage needed'

ORANGE has hit back at suggestions there is no need for a mast in Sheriff Hutton, as phone reception is said to be good already.

A spokesman said: "The fact is, there isn't perfectly good coverage at the moment in Sheriff Hutton. There are some members of the community who have been in touch during this process to say they want this mast switched on as soon as possible.

"At certain times of the day, reception might be okay, but at peak time, around 6pm or 7pm, when everyone is trying to use their phone, there isn't good coverage and we lose a lot of calls."

Updated: 08:34 Saturday, May 27, 2006