Plans to site a mobile phone mast in Windermere and to make changes to the town's parking arrangements prompted an outcry from residents who attended Monday night's parish council meeting.

Members of the public crammed into the council chamber to complain about the proposed location of a mobile phone mast near to Cross Street and the introduction of on-street 24-hour parking restrictions in Oak Street.

Kenneth Spelman, of Cross Street, said the parish council did not consult the residents for their views on the mast at a garage by Cross Street, off the main road in the town. He said that as a result there had been "a lot of anguish."

He said an 18-name petition had been sent to the Lake District National Park Authority in protest at the proximity of the mast to homes.

The application was for a mast to be put in a commercial area but Mr Spelman asked: "How can Cross Street be in a commercial area when the residents are now to be issued with on-street parking permits?"

He said he had no objection to the mast but argued that there were better sites and cited the tower on the town's NatWest bank, on the Windermere Hotel or on the Lakeland Limited building.

Elizabeth McPhail, of the Acorn Guesthouse, complained about proposed parking permit changes in Oak Street, claiming 24-hour parking restrictions would affect trade.

She said the plans could frighten guests away if there was no overnight parking.

Mrs McPhail said she had contacted all the businesses in the town and started a petition.

She also criticised Cumbria County Council for bringing in government contractors Capita to do the work: "What does Capita know about the needs of the people in Windermere?"

Councillors agreed to discuss the issues at their next meeting.