A WORLD authority on the health implications of mobile phone masts will be sharing his expertise with Swindon parents next week.

Roger Coghill will be giving a talk on the dangers of phone masts at the Pilgrim Centre in Regent Circus next Friday after being invited to the town by the Swindon-based charity Stop Harming Our Children (SHOC).

Mr Coghill, who runs an independent science laboratory in Pontypool, believes the health hazards of electromagnetic radiation from mobile phones, power lines and other sources are seriously understated.

And Basil Jones, chairman of SHOC's trustees, is hoping Mr Coghill's knowledge of the dangers of electromagnetic fields will bring the phone mast issue to the fore in Swindon.

"Our function (at SHOC) is to bring to the public's attention important issues about threats to our children," Mr Jones said.

"As mobile phone masts is a big issue locally, with more than 400 masts alone in Swindon, we thought this would be a good starting point to see what kind of reaction we get from the public.

"So we found that one of the top experts in the field of electromagnetic fields was Roger Coghill and luckily he agreed to come along.

"He has pointed towards the need to be extremely cautious about mobile phone masts and it will be very interesting for us to hear what he has to say."

SHOC was founded last September by a group of worried parents and grandparents who wanted to raise awareness of child nutrition and vaccination advice.

Eventually, the aim is to visit local schools to give out information and advice with expert guest speakers.

The group's main purpose is to bring back knowledge that has often been lost in today's media, to the attention of parents.

Karen Kelly, of Manor Cres-cent, Moredon, has spent more than a year protesting against an O2 phone mast, which was put up close to her home.

The mum-of-two has campaigned tirelessly for the mast to be moved and has applauded SHOC's efforts in highlighting the potential dangers of mobile phone masts.

The mast has not been moved yet but O2 has agreed in principle. "I think a lot of these masts go up because people sit back and think there isn't a lot they can do about it," she said.

"But I think anything that draws people's attentions to the dangers has got to be a good thing.

"There does seem to be a general view that if you want mobile phones you have to accept the masts and I agree with that, but I do think these masts must be put up away from residential areas."

Mr Coghill's talk starts at 7.30pm, but the Pilgrim Centre will be open for tea and coffee at 7pm. All are welcome to attend.

For more information, log onto www.shocswindon.org