RED phone boxes in the Great Yarmouth and Broadland area could be set for a stay of execution, despite a national cull of the least profitable public pay phones.

RED phone boxes in the Great Yarmouth and Broadland area could be set for a stay of execution, despite a national cull of the least profitable public pay phones.

Nearly 70 public phones were proposed for the axe last year in Yarmouth and Broadland because of lack of use caused by the rise of the mobile phone.

But phone company BT revealed yesterday that 36 town and parish councils in Norfolk had signed up to an “adopt a box” scheme, which would see communities paying �1 to keep their traditional red box- minus its phone equipment.

A spokesman added that BT had also received six applications from local communities willing to pay �500 a year to retain their closure-threatened kiosk and pay phone.

Breckland Council has made a plea for 19 threatened pay phones in its area to be retained. North Norfolk District Council has agreed to sponsor red boxes in West Raynham, near Fakenham, and Overstrand Road, Cromer, because of their conservation value.

Broadland District Councillors have objected to 24 phone box closures, with communities in Woodbastwick, near Wroxham, and Hevingham, near Aylsham, volunteering to adopt their village kiosks.