UP TO 178 public telephone boxes across the D&S Times area face the axe as part of a national viability programme.

BT is undertaking a six-week consultation process which involves the review of its call boxes, many in remote rural areas, which are not paying their way. The number of calls from BT payphones has almost halved in the last three years, with a 41pc drop in revenue.

Spokesman Paul Dorrell said an increase in the use of mobile phones meant that public phones were becoming underused.

"We have written to local authorities, parish councils and MPs regarding the consultation exercise and have put up notices in the boxes being considered for removal," he added.

Boxes to be affected include 31 in Teesdale, seven in Wear Valley, 25 in Redcar and Cleveland, 28 in Richmondshire, 27 in Ryedale, five in Stockton, seven in Sedgefield, ten in Darlington and 38 in Hambleton.

But those who live in some of the more isolated communities will not give up their phones without a fight. Coun Newman Smith, who represents the nine-house hamlet of Langton, in Teesdale, said residents had only learned of the matter at the beginning of the week and were just beginning to react.

"I understand where BT is coming from, but we would be very reluctant to part with the box, especially as mobile reception is very patchy," he added.

"Although we are a small community we do have quite a lot of people passing through. It will certainly be raised at our next parish council meeting and I am sure we will want to comment."

However, Mr Dorrell stressed that it was not a foregone conclusion that all 178 boxes would face the chop.

"This will be a lengthy process during which residents are being urged to make their views known to their local authority planning department," he said. "These are the main conduits for getting information back to us."

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