MOBILE phone coverage in Exmoor will be extended, thanks to a pot of money from the Government.

Exmoor has become the first National Park in the United Kingdom to benefit from the Government’s Mobile Infrastructure Project.

The £150million project is intended to cover “not-spots” – areas where there is no mobile coverage at all.

National Park planners said they were delighted when they were told a solution could be found to cover Roadwater.

A mast will now provide all four main mobile networks in the area which previously had no coverage.

The planners added that landowner support and the support from the community played a crucial role in the successful outcome.

David Wyborn, head of Planning and Sustainable Development at the National Park, added: “The Planning Committee were all supportive of the Roadwater proposals acknowledging the importance of modern communications to both residents, businesses and visitors.

“We will continue to work with the Project, landowners and local communities to ensure that as many areas can be provided with mobile phone coverage as possible, all in a way that maintains Exmoor’s landscape.”