A dispute over a controversial Tetra communications mast on a block of Brighton council flats could end up in court.

Brighton and Hove City Council has begun legal action against a company it claims erected the mast on the roof of Theobald House in Blackman Street without permission. Councillors claim the base station, which will serve a new police radio system, was installed on the roof illegally - a charge denied by O2 Airwave, the company responsible for setting up and maintaining the 70-mast network.

A spokeswoman for O2 Airwave described Theobald House as a temporary site and said the company was in negotiations with owners of alternative sites about moving the mast.

The Tetra network is scheduled to go live in Brighton in December.