Delighted residents of Shipton-by-Beningbrough were hugging each other in the streets after hearing that a proposal to put a mobile phone mast in their church spire will not go ahead.

Following an emotional meeting with villagers last week, the parochial church council has resolved to withdraw from the scheme that would have seen a Vodafone transmitter installed in the village church, the Church of the Holy Evangelist.

Vodafone would have paid the church £3,700 a year for three years, but villagers are now pledging to help raise money for the cash-strapped church instead.

A letter was delivered yesterday to every resident of the village from the Rector, the Rev Martin Harrison, and the church council.

It read: "Having heard people's concerns expressed clearly and calmly, the PCC is now convinced that the right course of action is to withdraw the proposal.

"There will be no transmitter in the church. We want to apologise for the stress and worry caused as this situation developed around us - we too have found this a difficult time."

Mr Harrison told the Evening Press: "The community in Shipton is a lovely community. I am sure there is going to be reconciliation because I have got great faith in the people of Shipton.

"Certainly the church will continue welcoming people and serving the community."

He said new ways to fund the church restoration needed to be found. "There's a challenge for the community. If they want the building to stand then they perhaps are going to have to respond generously themselves to the upkeep of that building," he said.

Emma Buxton, a mother of three, said: "It's great. I'm absolutely overjoyed. I've had three very stressful weeks because of my concern for my children."

Darren McFarlane, chairman of the Concerned Residents' Committee (CRC) which was set up to fight the proposal, said: "The CRC met last night, and we will be drafting a letter to the PCC saying thank you for listening to our concerns. We believe it's time for reconciliation and if there's anything we can do to help the church with funding we will try to do it. Perhaps we could organise some kind of fundraising day."

And Sue Beckington, a member of the CRC: "It's fantastic. We were hugging in the streets when we heard the news. It feels like winning the pools.

"Now we have to help the church by fundraising whatever way we can."

Updated: 13:54 Tuesday, January 30, 2001