A red phone box in Sandwich could be saved by being adopted by town councillors.

The box in North Street is one of the limited K9 models left in the country.

Sandwich town councillors are to look into the costings of adopting it without the telephone for “nostalgic reasons”.

Last month BT revised its phone box removal policy after Dover District Council objected to the removal of 18 telephone boxes in the Deal, Dover and Sandwich area.

BT said that town and parish councils could save the boxes by an adoption or sponsoring scheme.

Councillors have discussed preserving and maintaining the box, which is close to a stretch of water at the end of Rope Walk, and keeping it locked to avoid vandalism.

But Cllr Paul Carter said he thought the telephone should be retained because youngsters often fish in the river, and if the was an accident, it would be the first opportunity to dial the emergency services.

There were also fears that if it was kept without the telephone, the box would be used as a toilet.