Confusion surrounds plans for a mobile phone mast on a housing estate.

Protesters have mounted a year-long vigil in a caravan against the proposals to build a 30ft 3G mast near their homes in Melton.

They were, at first, cheered news Vodafone would instead look to put two masts on sites in the town.

However, now it has emerged one of the sites could be exactly the spot protesters have been fighting over, which is at the corner of Grange Drive and Sapcote Drive, in the town.

Earlier this week, Rutland and Melton MP Alan Duncan, who has taken up the protesters' case, received a letter from Vittorio Colao, chief executive of the Vodafone group.

It said the company's electric and magnetic fields unit manager, Dr Rob Matthews, "has agreed that we will look at the possibility of installing two base stations in different locations to answer the need for improved coverage for local customers.

"Whilst we will of course give this proper consideration, the installation of two base stations will have a more significant impact in terms of visual impact in that area.

"It may be that the local planning authority will not take a positive view of allowing two base stations to replace a single site for which planning permission has been granted."

The following day, Dr Matthews issued a statement in response to media inquiries which said: "This would still require a site within the residential area, as well as a second site on the edge of the estate, but we have committed to investigate this further.

"In the meantime, and in the absence of any confirmed viable alternatives, we are working on developing build plans for the existing consent at Grange Drive, taking account of the lessons learnt during the attempted build."

The campaigners have health fears over emissions from the mast, which would be seven metres (22.9ft) from one child's bedroom.

They won a 24-hour stand-off with Vodafone last month when workmen – backed by more than 20 security staff and with police on hand – arrived to put up the mast.

Vodafone eventually took down its fencing and went away, vowing to return "in the not-too-distant future".

Now, protestors are confused over whether there will be one mast or two, and where they will be.

Campaigner Matt Brown said: "The position is very unclear. I spoke to Rob Matthews and he said they were still planning to go ahead on the existing site.

"His statement that they are still going ahead with the original site contradicts the letter to Alan Duncan.

"I feel we've not really resolved the problem. As residents, we need some clarity."

Mr Duncan, who welcomed the announcement of two stations, said he was disappointed with Dr Matthews' statement, but said: "Two in the right place are better than one in the wrong place."