RESIDENTS fear the elderly will suffer after losing a fight to keep payphone kiosks open in East Cleveland.

BT has now closed 12 phone boxes in the Redcar and Cleveland area and dozens more across Teesside.

The company says the phones cannot be subsidised and promises that there is a phone box within half a kilometre of any which are closed.

But objectors fear it will be the most vulnerable people who lose out.

Joan Guy, chairman of Saltburn, Marske and New Marske parish council, said: "I felt that they haven't taken any notice of our concerns. We didn't agree with their reasoning that they are not used enough.

"As always, it's the most vulnerable people in society, like the elderly and the less well off who can't afford to have mobile phones or a phone at home, who will lose out."

A BT spokesman said: "The growth of mobile phones has meant that the number of calls made from BT payphones has almost halved in the last three years and revenue has dropped by 41 per cent, in contrast to a growing demand for public internet kiosks offering, internet, e-mail, text messaging as well as payphone calls.

"There are simply too many phone boxes in some areas to meet the needs of our customers - but unprofitable kiosks are only removed if there is a convenient alternative payphone nearby.

"BT is very conscious of its social obligations and has pledged its commitment to retain payphone service particularly in remote and rural communities and for people who depend on them."

The following kiosks are being removed: Ullswater Drive, Skelton; Oxford Street, Saltburn; Rifts Avenue, Saltburn; Fountain Street, Guisborough; Park Road, Brotton; Roseberry Road, Redcar; Troutbeck Road, Redcar; Mordales Road, Marske; Kirkleatham Lane, Redcar; Newcomen Terrace, Redcar; Lord Street, Redcar; Southfield Road, Marske.

The kiosk in John Street, Skelton, has been removed from the list and will remain open.