A Glasgow congregation is boycotting its local church because an Orange mobile phone mast has replaced its cross.

The Pentecostal Victory Christian Centre had a six-foot high cross on its roof which was lit up at night. But the cross came down when Orange paid as much as £10,000 to put up the transmitter.

Pastor Alex Gillies said that the cross was removed while Orange installed a mast inside the steeple.

But churchgoers said they thought the cross had been taken down for roof repairs and were furious when they found that a mast was being put up. They are now refusing to attend services led by Gillies.

Orange maintained that siting the mobile mast on the roof of the church will minimise the visual impact.