WINSFORD United FC have cried 'foul' over moves to site a mobile telephone mast on Wharton Road

And the problem stems from a previous application submitted by the club.

Earlier this year Winsford applied to Vale Royal Borough Council to have a Vodafone mast installed within their ground.

But their application was refused by the council, which has now received a similar plan from Vodafone for a mast on Wharton Road - less than 100 metres from Winsford United's Barton Stadium.

Mark Loveless, chairman of the football club, said: "I'm trying to find out how this has happened because when our application was refused we probably lost about £50,000 in revenue.

"When Vodafone first came to us they said it would have been ideal to place the mast in the ground because it was covered and wouldn't have had an effect on anyone living in the area."

He added: "If this gets approved it will be sad for the club because we will have lost out unecessarily on £50,000 which would have been used to relay the pitch and create training facilities for the first team, Winsford Ladies and Winsford youngsters."