BRITISH Telecom is planning to remove 32 kiosks in the Scarborough, Whitby and Ryedale areas.

In Scarborough Borough Council's area, 22 are to be removed, while ten will go at Ryedale.

Councillor Alan Farnaby, leader of Ryedale council, said: "It would be totally wrong to remove kiosks in our area because in many cases they are serving isolated communities. It isn't everyone who has a mobile phone or can afford one.

"The kiosks are vital to our residents, as well as the many thousands of tourists," said Coun Farnaby.

Two kiosks at Staithes and Hinderwell, on the North Yorkshire coast, have already been removed.

Paul Hendron, director of BT Payphones, said there had been a 40 per cent fall in the use of kiosks nationally in the past three years.

"We are committed to maintaining the existing service to all communities and have no intention of removing it from remote locations. We welcome and accept our social obligation to protect the service. But there are too many phone boxes in some areas for the needs of our customers."