COLCHESTER has more than 100 telecommunications mast sites - but the bid for more goes on.

Information released by phone companies T Mobile, 3UK, Orange, O2 and Vodafone reveal masts have been put up in a range of locations including pubs, churches, the hospital and even a school.

And yet new applications are being submitted for more masts as technology demands ever improved reception.

Jim Stevenson, communications manager for O2 and Vodafone, said the two companies were working together to share masts where possible.

But he said they were still looking for sites to put new masts to enhance 3G coverage.

An application is due to be submitted next month for a new mast to be built in Prettygate - a move residents and politicians are opposing.

For more on this story, see this week's Essex County Standard.