A former salesman is suing Nokia for as much as £1million over claims heavy mobile phone use caused his brain tumour.

Neil Whitfield, 60, is believed to be the first Brit to sue a mobile phone company on such grounds and if he succeeds it could cost the industry millions.

The father-of-six, of Wigan, Greater Manchester, became deaf in one ear after an operation to remove an acoustic neuroma tumour in 2001.

Neil Whitfield (right) with his wife Caroline and their son Harry. He is believed to be the first Brit to sue a mobile phone company on such grounds and if he succeeds it could cost the industry millions

The golf ball-sized growth meant he refused to carry on using mobile phones and lost his job as a salesman.

He believes long periods on the phone for work in the 1990s is the reason behind his health battle.

Mr Whitfield told the Sunday Mirror: 'I have no doubt my tumour was caused by mobile phones.

'I spent almost five years glued to my phone hours at a time until I was diagnosed. I could feel the heat coming off it.

'I know this is going to be a real David and Goliath battle. It might take a while before it's settled but I won't give up. This is for the future of my children and kids everywhere.'

Mr Whitfield had to take a £20,000-a-year pay cut when he lost his job as a salesman and became a college lecturer instead.

His claim centres around a loss of income and reduced pension payments. He has been embroiled in the legal battle for nearly six years.

Millions of people across Britain used Nokia phones in the 1990s, after they became one of the top phone retailers when mobiles came onto the market.

The father-of-six, of Wigan, Greater Manchester, became deaf in one ear after an operation to remove an acoustic neuroma tumour in 2001. File image used

In 1999 a Nokia phone was sold every four seconds. Older mobile phones are believed to have emitted greater levels of radiation, which they needed to get any signal.

A recent study in the Journal of Public Health and Environment revealed more tumours are developing in the frontal temporal lobe - affecting the front and side of the brain - which suggests mobile phone use could be a major factor.

Older mobile phones are believed to have emitted greater levels of radiation, which they needed to get any signal. File image

While the surgeon who removed Mr Whitfield's tumour at Manchester's Royal Infirmary said he 'couldn't rule out the risk' of mobile phone use, the near 30-year debate on whether mobiles are dangerous has proved mainly inconclusive.

Cancer Research UK also supports the view there is no direct link between phone usage and development of cancerous growths.

Lawyers are still confident Mr Whitfield will win his fight, with Mayfair solicitor Katrina Pope telling the Mirror she expects to make a 'strong claim' by the end of 2018.

Meanwhile Mr Whitfield wants phone companies to put warnings on packaging, similar to those on tobacco products in the UK.

Nokia says all their products are compliant with health guidelines.

A company spokesman told the newspaper: 'All products comply with ­international exposure guidelines and limits that are set by public health ­authorities.

'The World Health ­Organisation factsheet states that 'A large number of studies have been performed over the last two decades to assess whether mobile phones pose a potential health risk.

'To date, no adverse health effects have been ­established for mobile phone use'.'

MailOnline has contacted Nokia for further comment.