RURAL payphones across North Yorkshire are set to become 'cashless' in a compromise which means hundreds of public telephones will no longer be axed.

BT had planned to remove more than 200 payphones in the county. But now it only wants to get rid of 11. Instead it is proposing that more than 150 payphones should become cashless.

These phones would allow callers to make 999 calls, dial freephone numbers, reverse the charges through the operator and use BT charge cards.

BT says it would save money because the phones would no longer need emptying of coins.

County councillor Carl Les met BT chiefs to ask them to reconsider removing rural payphones. He welcomed the compromise, saying: "BT has moved a long way and should be congratulated for listening to our concerns.

"They will now consult with local communities about making the phones cashless, which I am pleased about."

Councillors and residents argued that payphones were essential in rural areas because mobile phone coverage was either poor or non-existent.

Gordon Gresty, the county council's corporate director for business and community services, said in a report that BT had revised their proposals for rural payphones following representations by the county council and others.