A 5G mast planned on the edge of Bath that sparked panic over the safety of the technology has been defeated at appeal.

Bath and North East Somerset Council leader Kevin Guy and city MP Wera Hobhouse were among hundreds of objectors to oppose the upgrade at Larkhall Sports Club on health grounds.

Deputy council leader Sarah Warren said objectors did not want to be used as "guinea pigs in a global experiment".

After planning officer Chris Griggs-Trevarthan warned the planning committee against "flying in the face" of government guidance that 5G is safe, members rejected the application as an inappropriate development in the green belt.

Telecoms firms EE and 3 said that position was "not defensible" and lodged an appeal.

It was thrown out this week by planning inspector RE Jones, who said the proposed 20-metre mast was materially larger than the existing one in Charlcombe Lane so would be considered a new development in the green belt and would be inappropriate.

The inspector said the "incongruous and imposing" mast would harm the Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and judged that it could not be compared to a slimmer, less prominent structure that was approved 70 metres away just two months later.

Dismissing the appeal, the inspector said the economic and social benefits of improved connectivity did not outweigh the harm to the green belt or AONB.

No other application for a 5G mast in Bath and North East Somerset has since faced such opposition from the public as the one proposed in Charlcombe Lane and some have only received a single objection.