Residents in north Watford have criticised a "sneaky" mobile phone company for attempting to extend a huge phone mast inside the grounds of a primary school during the summer holidays.

Mobile phone firm Orange has applied for permission to construct three additional antennas and an extra dish on an existing telecommunication mast, as well as move it.

The mast is inside the grounds of Orchard Primary School, in Gammons Lane, but Orange wants to make the mast bigger and needs to rebuild it.

The new mast will include 12 mobile phone antennae belonging to both Orange and O2, six dishes and two additional equipment cabinets at the base of the mast.

Orange says coverage in the area is "limited" and the new tower is necessary because the current one it is not strong enough to support the additional equipment.

The new mast will be 25 metres high - the same height as the current one.

Two trees would be destroyed to make way for the new structure, exposing it completely to the school's playing area.

Residents have criticised the timing of the application - during the summer holidays while many families are away.

The application was submitted at the end of July, the start of the school summer holiday.

Sally Punter, of the Courtlands Residents Association, said: "When I mentioned it at this week's meeting nobody had heard about it, so as a local association we haven't been notified at all.

"But it is the timing of it, it just feels rather sneaky.

"Because it is sleepy time and everyone is on holiday I think they think they can just get it sneaked through."

Orange has written to local councillors and notified the school about the proposal. Chairman for governors at Orchard Primary School, Alec Thomas, has already registered his opposition on health implications and the loss of playing fields.

However, residents and parents must register their comments by Wednesday. Miss Punter added: "If they were just putting extra things on it then yes it is horrendous but if it is still hidden by the trees then it is horrendous but it is hidden.

"But if they are taking down trees then when you walk up Gammons Lane it will just hit you in the face."

She added: "I don't understand why this mast has to move closer to the playing ground and closer to the road and why it had to be done during the school holidays."

At the time of going to press, a representative from Orange was unavailable for comment.

To view and comment on the proposal see www.ukplanning.com and search for application number 07/01046/FUL. All comments must be made by Wednesday