A Brighton pensioner has spent nearly £4,000 protecting her house from Wi-Fi and mobile phone signals, claiming the radiation is causing damage to her health.

Stefanie Russell claims to suffer from electro-sensitivity, which causes the signals emitted by computers and mobile devices to give her headaches and bouts of nausea.

"I've not been diagnosed by a doctor but my GP surgery is aware of my condition," Russell told The Argus. "Every time I am near Wi-Fi or mobile phone signals I feel ill."

Russell also fears that the radiation poses a cancer risk after reading articles that warned of such consequences.

As a result, Russell steers clear of mobile phones and computers and is in the process of covering both the inside and outside of her house in four layers of "ray-repelling" paint.

"The painting inside and outside my house is nearly complete. I feel much better now I'm more protected," she said.

"I have a device which helps me to detect how many wireless signals are near and I'm reassured that I will not have unwanted Wi-Fi guests coming into my home."

Cancer fears surrounding mobile phones and wireless devices have been circulating for as long as the technologies have existed.

The US National Cancer Institute addresses such concerns in a dedicated fact sheet page on its website.

"Cell phones emit radiofrequency energy, a form of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation, which can be absorbed by tissues closest to where the phone is held," the fact sheet states.

"Studies thus far have not shown a consistent link between cell phone use and cancers of the brain, nerves, or other tissues of the head or neck. More research is needed because cell phone technology and how people use cell phones has been changing rapidly."

Russell now hopes to educate local schools about the risks posed by exposure to wireless signals.

"Schools could use broadband instead of Wi-Fi, protecting them from early exposure to radiation," she said. "This is important - exposing them at an early age is essentially 'cooking' our children."