BT is planning to disconnect five public payphones in and around Crediton.

The telephones at St Lawrence Green in Crediton, Zeal Monachorum, Coldridge, Nymet Rowland and Newcourt Road in Silverton are all marked for removal.

The Grade II-listed red kiosks will not be taken away but will be locked.

Data provided by BT shows as few as 12 calls were made from the St Lawrence Green payphone in Crediton in the last 12 months.

In Silverton, the number was 10; in Nymet Rowland, six; and no calls were made at all in Zeal Monachorum or Coldridge.

No helpline calls were made from any of the payphones in the last 12 months either.

BT also found there is adequate mobile phone coverage from four providers in each area, and none of the locations have a high frequency of accidents or suicides and there was no evidence of any other reasonable need.

If you would like to keep the telephone service at any of the kiosks, you can make representations until Friday, May 9 by contacting your local authority. Telephone 0800 661 610 to find out how to contact your local authority.

“We’ll take account of representations you make about our plans when we’re making our final decision,” a BT spokesperson said.

“We’ll also write to with you the reasons for our decision.”

Communities can also “adopt” phone boxes, turning them into something else useful for local people.

“With payphone usage falling, communities are looking at new ways of using them,” the BT spokesperson continued.

“Thousands of boxes have been reinvented as cafes, mini-libraries, and defibrillator sites.

“Communities can adopt most red boxes for just £1.”

Only district and town or parish councils, registered charities and people who own the land a kiosk is on can adopt phone boxes.

To find out more about adopting a kiosk, visit: bt.com/adopt.