A TELEPHONE provider has confirmed that two recently-restored phone boxes that are a lifeline for one Andover couple will remain in the town centre.

St Mary’s ward councillor Iris Andersen was contacted by two concerned residents after one of the phone boxes, situated between the Guildhall and Topshop, was vandalised and the other was not working.

The couple, who do not have a landline or a mobile phone, felt that their lifeline had been cut off as they use the kiosks to ring relatives once a week and were concerned that the boxes were in danger of being taken away.

Cllr Andersen said: “I was contacted by some St Mary’s ward residents about the phone boxes in the High Street. The wife used them to contact her sister in London once a week.

“They were also worried that they would not be repaired and would be taken away as these phone boxes were her only lifeline to be able to ring her sister.

“When I went to have a look I found that there was no window in the one that had been vandalised and the handset had been smashed.”

Cllr Andersen then contacted BT who restored the vandalised kiosk within two days.

“I have to compliment BT,” Cllr Andersen continued, “they worked together with me and got it fixed within 48 hours.

“It hit home to realise that some people don’t have a landline or a mobile phone and I feel relieved for this woman who can now ring her sister again from the call box in Andover.

“When I told them that the phone boxes were fixed they were really pleased and happy that they will remain in the town.”

Asked about the future of the phone boxes, a BT spokesperson said: “BT have no plans to remove these payphone kiosks.

“It’s regrettable when payphones suffer any kind of damage. BT Payphone’s priority is always to repair and restore service as quickly as we can.

“We’re glad to hear that local customers were pleased with the speedy repair of their local payphone.”

To report any BT payphones in need of maintenance, email customer.serv.payphones@bt.com.