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Published 10:47, 03 September 2022 BST | Last updated 11:19, 03 September 2022 BST

Locals have expressed their dismay over the attempts to disguise a new phone mast as a tree, only for it to resemble a toilet brush.

The bristly, 25-meter high mast - built by Mobile Broadband Network Limited - was granted planning permission in near Dundas Home Farm, South Queensferry last year, but locals have not appreciated the attempt to blend it in with some 'greenery'.

Instead of taking on the appearance of a luscious green tree, the mast instead resembles a prickly toilet brush that stands at around double the height of the trees around it - resulting in it sticking out like a sore thumb.

You'd think they'd place the mast slightly closer to the trees, at least...

Speaking of the mast, which is a replacement mast serving both EE and Three customers, one local said: "Oh dear it definitely looks nothing like a tree and very much like a gigantic toilet brush."

While someone else added: "I think the mast alone would have looked better."

Another resident commented: “God’s lavvy brush”, as another joked: “They could put baubles on it at Christmas.”

In news that will come as no surprise, more than 20 objections were made on the planning application for the mast at the time it was approved in June last year, with arguments saying it would spoil the ‘visual amenity’ of the Dundas Special Landscape Area and have a ‘detrimental’ impact on nearby Dundas Castle.

"The application is pretty much identical to the application that was rejected in 2020 by the planning authority other than trying to disguise this mast structure as an extremely tall tree that would seem out of place in the area," one objection argued.

"It would appear that the height of this mast is considerably taller than existing surrounding trees and would be observed from local properties within the listed area including the livery and properties within the listed Dundas Home Farm."

An MBNL spokesperson said: "The planning authority accepted the operators’ proposals for a tree-styled mast to reduce the visual impact whilst ensuring critical mobile coverage will continue to be available to customers in the area, and accordingly the design was approved."

Believe it or not, this isn't the first time a phone mast has caused uproar in the UK.

Earlier this year, a Brit expressed his fury over a 5G 'metal dildo' that was erected outside of his home with 'no warning'.

Property owner Brian Swanson claims there was no notice given and the first he knew of the mast being erected was when he went to the address at Patshull Avenue in Wolverhampton, and was left stunned to see the huge phone mast standing proudly outside.

And to make things even worse, Swanson claims the monstrosity knocked around £10,000 off the value of his property. Ouch.