Dozens of residents held a protest against an 85ft phone mast which was set to be erected without consultation.

The demonstration was held at Bowmans Heath, Dartford, yesterday as people living in Bowmans Road and Chastillian Road continue to fight against the installation.

Angry residents say they had no idea about the plans to install the 5G antennae on neighbouring Bowmans Heath until equipment arrived at the site on Wednesday, January 11.

When a lorry and crane arrived the following day to deliver the mast, some residents parked their cars to block access to the heath, while others phoned the council asking for the work to be stopped.

Work was postponed after Dartford council officers arrived on site, and agreed to stop the work until further notice because proper consultation had not been carried out.

Yesterday, the residents gathered for a meeting on the heath in protest, holding signs that read: "Stop the Bowmans Mast. Wrong location. No consultation."

Brent ward and county councillor Avtar Sandhu MBE attended the gathering.

He said: "All the residents, and I am one as well, have the issue that it's been done underhand. We haven't been consulted by the mast company.

"We know these things are necessary but it's a case of going through the right process.

"They've completely ignored the residents. All we are asking is for them to come and talk to us first.

"And we know it's a temporary mast, but how can we be sure it will stay temporary?

"It's not even just a standard mast, it's 85 feet tall. That's a very, very high mast, within 100 metres of houses.

"There will be a 24 hour generator working there because there's no electricity on the site, and I can see the mast out of my bedroom window - some people can even see it from their living rooms!

"The worst thing is there wasn't even a slight bit of consultation, even now after it's been put on hold."

Dartford Council said earlier this month the failure to consult with residents was "unacceptable" and the council had taken action to stop the work until consultation had taken place.

Residents say the heath is an inappropriate location for the mast as it would be the height of more than five double decker buses and is in the vicinity of a number of residential roads.

The land was also formerly a landfill site, with large amounts of methane gas under the ground.

People living near the heath have said the ground level has shifted over time, with slopes and dips in areas which were previously flat.

A statement from Dartford Council earlier this month read: "Circet UK requested discussions with Dartford Borough Council regarding proposals for an emergency temporary aerial on land in Bowmans Road that we lease from Kent County Council, although mid-process both authorities were served with a formal notice under the Act which would allow Circet UK to proceed with or without our agreement.

"We are never happy with such an approach and Circet UK eventually agreed to limit itself to looking for a temporary solution rather than use its powers to impose a permanent mast.

"The Council were assured by Circet UK that consultation would be undertaken with the local residents in the area. So as soon as it came to our attention that construction was starting without residents being informed, Officers attended the site and put a stop on the works, which currently remains in place.

"This stop will remain until we are satisfied that all consultation and statutory requirements are met."

Circet UK has been approached for comment.