A phone mast company is hoping to meet with residents after plans for an 85ft 5G mast met with fierce opposition.

Residents parked their cars to block access to land off Bowmans Road, Dartford, when operators turned up at the site to erect a mast without warning in January, and hundreds gathered at the site last month to show their opposition to the plans.

Brian Crone, who has helped coordinate opposition, said companies had failed to consult properly, and the campaigners were then backed by Dartford Council, which released a statement slamming the failure to consult as "unacceptable."

Now residents have been approached by Mobile Broadband Network Ltd (MBNL), a company set up jointly by EE and Three to install and maintain the infrastructure, to request a meeting.

Mr Crone said they were due to discuss the invitation, but welcomed the offer as a change of tactic from a previous aggressive approach.

He added: "As the result of an effective and wide ranging local campaign against siting a temporary phone mast on Bowmans Heath, we have been contacted by MBNL.

"This represents a very different approach by them from the non-communicative, bullying tactics they have used in the past.

"We are currently considering their proposal for a meeting.

He noted the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport produced a ‘Code Of Practice for Wireless Network Development in England’, which has a "strong focus on the siting and design of wireless infrastructure and the process for engaging with local authorities and communities".

But he said this had up until now been ignored by those behind the plan.

MBNL have been approached for further comment.