Residents have vowed to fight plans for a mobile phone mast on top of their flats for a second time.

The pledge comes after they thought they had won their battle to prevent Orange putting a mast on the roof at Wilbury Lodge, Hove.

The telecoms company withdrew its original application last year after protests from people living in and close to the flats in Wilbury Road.

Orange promised to look at other sites in the area but has now told residents nowhere else is suitable.

The company has submitted a new application to Brighton and Hove City Council for a mast and equipment cabins on the roof.

Resident Sean Perkins said: "All the flat owners are up in arms. We're worried about the safety of the building as the roof may not be strong enough to take the weight of the mast and all the equipment that goes with it.

"The building is in a conservation area and having a mobile phone mast on top of it will make it a real eyesore."

Hove councillor Jenny Barnard-Langston said Orange appeared to have ignored the views of residents in the area.

She organised a public meeting last year when residents told the company Wilbury Lodge was the wrong place to put the mast. She has now written to ask why the firm has apparently taken no notice of their views.

Coun Barnard-Langs-ton said: "Orange has an agreement from the building's freeholder that he is willing to allow for a mast to be built.

"After the public meeting Orange said they would respect the residents' views and look for an alternative site."

Claire Barry, Orange's community liaison officer, said the most suitable option would be to use the floodlights at nearby Sussex County Cricket Club to take its antennae. But investigations had shown they were not strong enough.

She said: "The only alternative to the floodlights would be a freestanding tower which would need to be just under 100ft tall to provide the coverage needed.

"It would also need to be relatively bulky to support its own height. Such a structure would not be a suitable alternative and its size would be prohibitive in planning terms."

Orange had looked at 15 other buildings in the area but none was suitable because they did not meet planning regulations or were not available.

The application is due to be discussed by the city council's planning committee in the next few weeks.