Tension is growing in Sheringham for residents left almost a month without mobile signal after a mast was removed ahead of a new supermarket development.

The mast, serving Vodafone users in the area, was dismantled from the former fire station site on the Cromer Road during October to make way for the new Tesco store.

And as well as dozens of locals being left without vital coverage some have also claimed they are being offered poor compensation.

One resident who lives at The Common, but did not want to be named, said his son pays extra for a special package, offered by the mobile network, allowing family members to talk to each other for free.

He said it was 'impossible' to now use this service and feared they would not be compensated for this.

Other residents in the town claim they have been offered �5 in compensation.

A spokesman for Vodafone said if customers were without coverage for three days or more they could claim a refund of the proportion of line rental for the period that the coverage had been lost.

She added: 'We understand that it can be very frustrating for our customers when they lose mobile coverage but we have to make it clear in our terms and conditions that the nature of mobile communications means we cannot guarantee a service at all times.

'We recommend that customers contact customer services by dialling 191 [on their mobile].'

A new base station has been built on land adjacent to St Andrews Close, which will replace the coverage when work is completed to link the new site into the network. This is expected to take place next week.

Sheringham councillor Richard Smith said it was 'completely unacceptable'.

'The lack of communication and delay is a real blow for customers who expect a quality service,' he said. 'It's completely unacceptable that residents continue to pay for a poor to non-existent service.'