Concerns have been raised about plans to place mobile antennae on a Tooting church, near a primary school.

The proposal is to mount 10 mobile phone antennae on the side of the tower of All Saints Church, near Hillbrook Primary School.

The planning application was submitted in January, but neighbours mounted a campaign and the church asked for more time to consult.

Campaigners said they understood the need for mobile phone coverage but were worried about a potential impact on health.

Tooting Councillor James Daley said: "Most of us rely on mobile phones these days, and I’m sure most people would welcome better coverage in the Tooting area. But there’s no need to place a large number of phone masts right next to one of the largest primary schools in the local area.

"Over 170 residents have now signed the petition opposing this and, as one of the local councillors, I’m urging the church to reconsider whether it wants to give its blessing to a development that so many of its parishioners are against."

Mobile phone masts and base stations are unlikely to increase your cancer risk, but cancer experts said not enough was known to completely rule out a risk.

Sadiq Khan MP said: "I share concerns with the plans to place a phone mast in such close proximity to a school. It's not about opposing better mobile phone coverage, it's about finding a safer and more sensible location for the masts. Local residents, councillors and I are united."

The church carried out a survey last autumn, sent letters to every parent at Hillbrook School and put a letter through every door within 200 metres of the tower.

A church spokesman said: "The health debate is complicated but our understanding is that none of the harms that are often alleged to result from mobile phone base stations has been proved and that the mainstream view of the scientific community, the Government and the bodies responsible for public health is that these installations are safe.

"We stress that the church parish council has not finally voted to allow the proposal to go ahead. We are still in a process of discernment.

"We welcome further debate about this issue and believe it is necessary and we hope that the planning process will facilitate informed debate."