RESIDENTS of Ripple, near Upton, and Lower Broadheath, near Worcester, are being asked to have their say on the future of two rural phone boxes.

Telecom company BT wants to deactivate the boxes at Station Road in Ripple and Bell Lane, Lower Broadheath, and hand them over for community use.

West Mercia Police wants to take over the Lower Broadheath box under the company’s Adopt a Kiosk Scheme and turn it into a community hub, while Ripple Parish Council has made a similar request for its box.

In the last year, 27 calls have been made from the Lower Broadheath kiosk, and just four from the Ripple one.

Under Ofcom rules, Malvern Hills District Council is required to consult the community on BT’s behalf when a request for adoption is made.

People can have their say on the plans by visiting malvernhills.gov.uk/public-notices-consultations and filling in the online survey. Deadline for responses is Sunday, May 28.