A vicar who claims that cash secured from a plan to install a mobile phone mast in his church spire would be a "gift from God" has sparked fury among residents.

The Rev Matthew Tomlinson, the vicar at St Augustine's Church in Edgbaston, has angered residents by dismissing health concerns associated with phone masts.

He rejected city council rules that his Grade II listed building would need planning consent for the mast, which could bring in about £5,000 a year in rent for the church.

The Anglican church, which is situated in a conservation area on Lyttelton Road, has been identified by agents acting for the Archbishop's Council as a suitable location for a lucrative phone mast.

The Parochial Church Council, which runs the church, has agreed for the building to house a phone mast. However, residents said they opposed the plan.

Doreen Whitehouse, who lives in nearby Melville Road, said: "These mobile phone companies say that the masts are not bad for your health, but I am not convinced.

"I can see the spire of the church from my window and I am very opposed to this plan."

A city council spokeswoman confirmed that planning permission would be required if the project was to be given the go-ahead as the building is listed and is situated in a conservation area.

But Rev Tomlinson said: "We are exempt from planning permission because the building is owned by the Church of England. It just needs the permission of the chancellor of the diocese.

"The mast would be in the cone of the spire. We have been approached by an intermediary company working on behalf of the Archbishop's Council.

"They have identified this church as a site that would be appropriate for a mobile phone company. And this church has said that we would be happy for such a plan.

"At the moment there has been no mobile telephone company that has approached us. But if we did receive a rent we would recognise that as a gift from God to help us carry out the mission of the church."

Rev Tomlinson said consulting with residents would be the responsibility of the "intermediary company".

He dismissed health worries, saying: "There are not any health concerns from masts that are not already present with numerous appliances and communications that are already in existence, such as microwaves."

Coun Deirdre Alden (Con Edgbaston) said: "I really do think there are too many phone masts going up. They seem to be everywhere and something needs to be done about them."