Moves to improve police communications by building a 15m-high phone mast at a football ground have been rejected by councillors.

Radio communications provider Airwave wanted to house an antenna and an equipment cabin at Worthing Football Club's Woodside Road stadium.

Similar plans had met stern resistance from nearby residents, who feared the effects of living next to such equipment and thought it would be an eyesore.

Airwave's proposals were aimed at improving communications between police forces in England, Wales and Scotland, following a Home Office directive.

Worthing planners agreed with planning officers' recommendation to reject the plans.

There are already seven masts at the ground and one resident living nearby wrote: "While residents are not 'nimbies', they object to the constant barrage of applications for radio transmitting equipment from the club.

"The equipment does not affect any of the club owners who live nowhere near the ground and do not have to look and listen to the installed equipment every day when they look out of their windows."