breast cancer sufferers who were at school together in the 1960s.

The three women are part of a group of 15, said to have developed the disease after sharing a classroom at Prospect Secondary School more than 30 years ago.

Department of Health officials have launched an inquiry to see if there is a link between the cancer cases and several cellular towers in the Prospect area.

Anti-tower group CARE (Communities Against Radiation Emissions) believe similar masts may cause cancer.

They have been lobbying against proposals for a new tower in Southampton, to be built by Bermuda Digital Communications.

The Government investigations team, led by Dr. Brenda Davidson, is also questioning Police about the history of towers near their Prospect headquarters.

Some of the masts are used for two-way radios, while others are for cell-phones or TV and radio broadcasting.

Several British Police officers, who lived in barracks at Prospect during the 1960s, have already died from different types of throat cancer.

And Dr. Davidson is trying to find all 15 women who are now fighting breast cancer having spent their school years in Prospect.

She said last night: "We have now got three names of people who said they'd had breast cancer diagnosed and that's as a result of the initial article in The Royal Gazette on Saturday.

"That means we now have a starting point for the basis of an investigation and one of those people is actively tracking further information and more names for us.'' CARE spokesman Mr. Thompson said he heard the breast cancer claims at a recent group meeting.

But he added: "That's not something I can comment on specifically. What I can say is that I give Government accolades for saying they are going to look into the whole issue.

Three cancer sufferers questioned "But our simple point is that many highly intelligent groups around the world -- including the Environmental Protection Agency in the US and the governments of New Zealand and Australia -- are keeping cellular towers out of residential neighbourhoods to err on the side of caution.

"That's the entire issue as far as I'm concerned. Regarding the burden of proof, it is not for us to prove that these towers are unsafe.

"It is for the Telecommunications Commission to prove that they are safe.'' Telecommunications Minister Renee Webb was off the Island and unavailable for comment last night.

Dr. Davidson said anyone with more information about former Prospect students suffering breast cancer was asked to call the Department of Health on 236-0224.

HEALTH HTH