Totnes council, in the west country, is opposing 5G technology after lobbying by activists who say it could increase cancer, depression and other conditions

Conspiracy theorists spreading health scares about the 5G mobile network are pressuring local authorities to ban the technology from their towns.

Totnes in Devon announced this week that it was joining the Somerset councils of Glastonbury and Frome in opposing 5G until they were satisfied that it was safe.

Shepton Mallet, also in Somerset, has followed suit after lobbying by activists. The district council said that it would not endorse the technology “until there is more independent, disinterested scientific consensus that 5G wireless radiation is harmless”.

Lobbyists are targeting dozens more councils with meetings, spreading the claim that 5G radio waves can cause increases in cancer, dementia, depression, anxiety, suicide, infertility and autism. The bans are raising fears in the government that people are being