The firm said it would take legal action if the sportsmen and women wanted it to remove the Tetra mast from their land.

The prospect of an potentially expensive encounter in front of a judge caused the golf club to back down.

The actions by O2's subsidiary, Airwave, to protect its mast on the first fairway at its site off Downview Road in Felpham, close to Downview Primary School, have been condemned by protestors against the mast.

Alan Taylor, of Felpham Residents Against Tetra, said: "This does appear to be a case of a large multi-national company using its financial clout to ride roughshod over local concerns and interests. This is aided and abetted by our government – particularly the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister."

He said nearby residents were grateful the club had tried to force O2 Airwave to take down the mast. "There is no dispute between us and the golf club," he stated, "But I can't see a way out of this situation."

Full report in the March 30 issue of the Bognor Regis Observer