A MAJOR investigation has been called for after a "serious council malfunction" will allow four controversial mobile phone masts to be built - despite being turned down by Wirral's planning department.

In a closed doors meeting last night, planning councillors were told phone giant T-Mobile had presumed consent had been given after a delay in notifying it of the planning committee's refusal.

There had been massive public opposition to the applications - in Pensby, Gayton, Moreton and Claughton - with more than 600 people signing protest petitions.

Leader of the Tory group, Cllr Jeff Green, called the mistake "outrageous".