Residents blockaded a road in Barnet yesterday to prevent the installation of a phone mast which had been refused planning permission.

Police were called when between six and ten residents made their stand in Chesterfield Road, next to Stanhope Road Open Space, after phone company O2 dug a hole to erect a six-metre mast which, on July 12, Barnet Council had refused permission to install.

The council refused permission on the grounds that the antenna and associated equipment would be visually intrusive' in the street and detrimental to the public's enjoyment of the area.

Chesterfield Road resident and protestor Debra Barker said: "O2 tried to fill the hole with concrete so it will be impossible to remove. We are not having it and have been blocking O2's way.

"It would be an absolute eyesore. We will stay until the builders go away - we won't let them put the mast up."

But the phone company says it is erecting the mast legally. O2 community relations officer James Stevenson said: "We are building the mast as per planning authority regulations. The council didn't respond to us within 56 days of the decision being made and we have taken permission to do it."

A spokeswoman for the council said it was investigating whether O2 had breached planning regulations and confirmed that the company had agreed to halt the works and make the area safe in the meantime.