A Family will soon live beneath five mobile phone masts built on top of their flat in Brighton.

Peter Sims, 40, his partner and 17-year-old daughter already live a couple of feet below two Vodaphone masts built on the roof of their flat in Mitre House, Western Road.

But within weeks, One 2 One will finish building another three up there as well.

Mr Sims, who bought his top- floor flat seven years ago, said: "There is an enormous warning sign telling people not to go on the roof because of radiation.

"When Vodaphone engineers come here they wear big white protective space suits."

Contractors for One 2 One are currently building the foundations of the five-metre high masts, which were hauled up on to the roof by a crane last week.

When they have finished, the steel structures, which will cater for the increasing number of mobile phone users, will loom above Mr Sims' roof garden.

His partner, Dr Marc Dorfman, a psychologist, said: "I find it unbelievable that they don't need planning permission and there are no health and safety regulations involving these structures.

"I don't think we will know how hazardous they are until well into the future when data is available.

"We want to bring it to the public's attention that these controversial masts are being erected in the centre of a heavily populated area of Brighton."

But yesterday Mike Davies, of One 2 One, denied radiation from the masts posed any health risks.

He said: "We are satisfied that our base stations are in line with national and international guidelines and pose no health risk to members of the public."

Mr Davies added that One 2 One antennae operated at a lower frequency than Vodaphone which meant they emitted less radiation and workers did not need to wear protective clothing when near them.

In a meeting held last week Mr Sims, a writer, had asked the company to build its masts on a lift shaft further away from the top-floor flats.

He also claimed its contractors had used unsafe working practices.

Mr Sims said: "They were hauling huge cables up the building and put no safety barriers around the edge of the roof.

"They could have easily rolled off into Western Road on to shoppers below."

Yesterday the Health and Safety Executive confirmed it was investigating.

But One 2 One, who is paying thousands to rent the roof space from Mitre House leaseholder Mohammed Taher, said it was happy with its contractors.

Mr Davies said: "We have spoken to the agents who employ the contractors and are satisfied they are complying with all the safety constraints."

He added that the efficiency of the masts would be affected if their position was shifted.

He said: "There would be difficulties if we moved them because we have to avoid the size of the building for the beam of the antennae.

"We need three masts to cover 360 degrees and help cover holes in the network coverage."