A CLASSIC red phone box in Tytherington has been saved after the parish council intervened to stop its removal by BT.

Tytherington Parish Council elected to adopt the traditional telephone box on Itchington Road opposite the Swan and have said it will be re-purposed as a village feature.

Bob Jenkins, Andrew McCabe, Mike Brown, Richard Cornock and Richard Norton, members of Tytherington Roots, the village’s local history group, have already begun the renovation work, scrapping many layers of old red paint.

It is expected to be a long project, with new window frames and glass panels have been purchased, courtesy of a parish council grant.

A council spokeswoman said: “While we are sad to see a working rural phone disconnected, we are excited about the future of the telephone box and plan to ask the residents for ideas on its use.

“Current suggestions range from art and poetry exhibitions to a plant and seed swap location.”

Cllr Marian Lewis, who represents the Ladden Brook ward on South Gloucestershire Council said: “This is an exciting project and of course the final result will be an asset to the village community, whatever its use turns out to be.”