A couple fear their daughter is being made ill by a Tetra mast near their home.

Eleven-month-old Miriam Aubanel has been suffering headaches, ear infections and sleepless nights since the mast was switched on.

The problem has become so severe that her Australian-born mother Kim is seriously considering moving back to the other side of the world.

Mrs Aubanel and husband Julian, 53, say Miriam only started developing problems after the mast was switched on close to their house in Selsey, near Chichester, earlier this year.

Since then they have noticed how distressed Miriam becomes when they are at home and yet seems unaffected when they are staying elsewhere.

Mrs Aubanel, 44, said: "At first I didn't really catch on to what the problem was but gradually we put two and two together.

"It seems too much of a coincidence that she only seems to be affected in the house.

"She used to be a happy and contented baby but when indoors she is crying almost all the time, grabbing her head and frowning.

"She used to sleep through the night but now keeps on waking up all the time, crying and upset.

"Yet if we go and stay anywhere else there aren't any problems and she goes back to being the normal, happy child she usually is.

"These masts are appearing everywhere. It has got to the point where I am seriously thinking about going back to live in Australia.

"These masts are appearing all over the country so it is not a matter of just moving home.

"I have been here for ten years and love the place but I don't want Miriam to have to go through all this."

Mr and Mrs Aubanel run their own business from home and if Mrs Aubanel did go back to Australia her husband would have to stay behind to keep an eye on it.

Mrs Aubanel said: "It would mean the family would be divided but in the long term we have to put Miriam's health first."

The firm responsible for the new mast, O2 Airwave, has to install more than 70 of them for a new radio communications system for Sussex Police.

The controversial system has met with opposition across the county.

Many say Tetra radio signals interfere with the brain and others have complained of headaches and sickness.

O2 Airwave spokesman Josh Berle said: "We sympathise with the Aubanels and what they are going through.

"The Tetra system is being introduced at 40 police forces across the country, including Sussex, and has been checked and tested extensively.

"There is no demonstrable, clear or credible evidence of any health problems caused by Airwave or the Tetra technology supporting it.

"The new system is already proving effective for police forces and will go a long way towards improving people's safety."

The system is expected to go online first in Sussex Police's Brighton and Hove division in December and will be gradually rolled out across the county.

At the moment it is being tested in various locations and staff are being trained in how to use it.

The Tetra system should be in place by the middle of next year.