So far more than 100 people have put pen to paper to register their anger at the loss of signal in the village and that nothing is going to be done about it.

The villagers were reacting to news that a filler site, to boost the signal at Sandsend, would not be built and therefore the current television reception would not improve.

In the early stages of the move to the site at Stainsacre Lane industrial estate, it was recognised the area around Sandsend would probably suffer poorer TV reception as a result of the move.

Outline planning permission was sought for a small relay transmitting station to be built to provide an additional source of TV reception in East Row and Sandsend in the event this station proved to be viable.

However this plan has since been shelved.

“Surveys have shown only a very small number of properties would benefit from the filler site at Sandsend and as a result, National Grid Wireless and the broadcasters regret it is unviable to build a new relay transmitter at Sandsend,” said a spokeswoman for National Grid Wireless.

“The result of this is a small number of households at Sandsend may no longer be able to receive adequate terrestrial TV signals.

“We have written directly to those households concerned.”

It was this announcement which caused the residents of Sandsend to act. Tim Lawrence, who runs Estbek House in the village, said the people of Sandsend want to show it is more than just a small number of people who will be affected.

He said: “The people of Sandsend are outraged at the way National Grid Wireless are treating them.

“The promised booster mast at Sandsend has now been cancelled, leaving local residents without a TV and radio signal from 16 October.

“Local residents are starting a campaign to find out how many people will be affected. National Grid Wireless claim only a few people will be affected but we aim to prove them wrong before it’s too late.”

Ivor Homer, landlord of the Hart Inn, said that even after a few days the numbers signing the petition had already topped 100 and said a letter from the BBC had started the movement in the village.

“I received a letter last Monday from the BBC basically saying bad luck here is the number for Sky,” he said. It was that letter which really stirred up the feeling in the village.

“This is a problem of their own creating. They did not need to move that mast and everything is going digital in 2012 so I really don’t see the point.”

The petitions will be collected and sent to the BBC and National Grid Wireless, urging them to delay the 16 October switch-off to allow more time for residents to make arrangements.