MOBILE phone masts in Kent have emissions well below international guidelines, according to a Government study.

Five sites in Kent were included in the survey of 22 sites in the South East by the Radiocommunications Agency, an agency within the Department of Trade and Industry, which tested the level of electromagnetic emissions being given out by masts.

The site of a mast at Loose Infants School in Loose Road, Maidstone, had the highest reading of the Kent sites included, at 1/5847, although it was still several thousand times below the limit set by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection.

A mast at Kent College in Pembury had a reading of 1/18008. Readings in the survey, carried out during 2002, ranged from 1/731 and 1/19,907,515 of the international exposure guidelines.

Telecoms Minister Stephen Timms said: "We are aware of public concerns and it is important to give the public the information they need. These results continue to show that exposure levels of the public are well below recommended limits."

He urged mobile phone companies to carry out full consultation with the public when putting up masts, in an effort to build public confidence in the industry.

A mast at Bean Primary School near Dartford had a reading of 1/2277, while a reading from a mast at the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford had a reading of 1/35528. A reading taken at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Folkestone had the lowest reading of 1/372692.

For more information on the 100 audits carried out so far go to the agency's website at www.radio.gov.uk