Mobile phone company 02 made an application to South Tyneside Council to build the mast in Sunniside Lane, near the Cleadon Hills.

It was a bid which outraged people in the area, who claimed panoramic views between Cleadon Water Tower and Cleadon Windmill would be ruined if it got the go-ahead.

The campaigners gained the support of Conservative councillors representing Cleadon and East Boldon.

Tomorrow, members of the council's planning committee will be recommended to throw out the application, with a report to the committee describing the planned phone mast as "inappropriate".

It says: "Whilst it is accepted that the design of the proposal is simplistic, with the use of a relatively slender pole, shrouded antenna and a small cabinet to minimise its bulk and appearance in the landscape, its modern man-made materials and design are fundamentally at odds with the characteristics of its surroundings.

Brian Bage, secretary of Cleadon Village Association, said the recommendation for refusal was the right one.

"As we've said before, we are not against phone masts but they need to be in the right place.

"This proposal is in a rural country lane. To have this mast stuck in the middle of it would be simply wrong."