A public meeting has been called amid growing concerns about the impact of mobile phone masts on people's health.

Invitations have been sent out to scores of home-owners in Worthing.

The meeting will be at the Pavilion Theatre, Worthing, on Wednesday, July 9, at 7.30pm.

It will provide further information on the latest research programmes.

Professor Lawrie Challis, new chairman of the Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research programme, will be one of the guest speakers.

James Appleton, the council's assistant director of planning services, said: "The council is aware of concern in relation to mobile phones and the level of conflicting advice on the subject."

People living near Worthing FC's Woodside Road ground protested against plans for a 15-metre phone mast in the north-west corner, near a floodlight tower.

Councillors rejected health fears by protesters but refused the application because of its impact on the character of the area.

Sussex Police have applied for permission to install further communications equipment at Woodside Road.

Mr Appleton believes this could be the first of several applications from the emergency services who are planning a new system, called Airwave, to be in operation by 2005.