The vicar of Highweek has defended the decision to allow Vodafone to erect a telephone mast on the tower of the 15th century All Saints Church.

The Rev Michael Thayer said his parish was facing a deficit of £18,000 in the coming year and that the £6,000 annual rent offered by the mobile phone giant would come in useful.

Last week it was revealed that planning officers at Teignbridge Council had granted permission for the mast, which will be disguised as a flagpole.

A dozen households in the neighbourhood objected to the application and the council's own heritage expert had also refused to back it, saying it would harm the appearance of the Grade I listed church and its Grade II listed lych-gate.

A previous application submitted last year to erect a mast disguised as a telegraph pole was turned down on the same grounds.

Mr Thayer said the church was forced to explore all funding options.

'We have to run the parish and maintain it financially, we can't not take advantage of a rent of that size,' he said.

'We have a predicted deficit this year of £18,000 and have to raise money wherever we can.

'It's not going to look like anything other than a flagpole, it won't ruin the look of the church.

'People want the building here and I don't know how they expect us to pay for it, we don't receive money from the government.

'If we didn't have money problems we wouldn't have to investigate options such as this.'

Mr Thayer said Vodafone had made the first approach about erecting a mast and had yet to pay any rent.

Although planning permission is granted and the project has the support of the parochial church council the decision could still be vetoed by the Diocesan Board in Exeter.

Mr Thayer said he hoped a decision would be made by the autumn.

l In last week's article, we incorrectly stated that the Rev Adrian Wells was the vicar at All Saints.

We apologise for the error.