WEST Dorset District Council s executive committee has approved the decision to oppose BT s plans to remove public phone boxes in the area.

WEST Dorset District Council's executive committee has approved the decision to oppose BT's plans to remove public phone boxes in the area.

The move came following the company's proposal for parishes to adopt their local phone box for �1.

Last year WDDC, backed by the local community, opposed BT plans to remove 72 payphones in the district.

WDDC leader Robert Gould said: "Rural facilities need to be protected, so I am pleased with the decision to oppose BT's proposals to remove phone boxes from the district.

"We would like to thank the parish and town councils for their cooperation. The district council has not had the resources to make a box-by-box decision on the BT proposals, so the feedback from parish and town councils has been valuable in helping us reach our final decision."

For more information and a list of phone boxes affected, visit www.dorsetforyou.com/phoneboxes/west