VILLAGERS are putting out a call to save their red phone box from demolition. Residents of Therfield have launched a petition for those who would like to see the traditional booth, which is located on the green, kept as a village feature. It is set to be

VILLAGERS are putting out a call to save their red phone box from demolition.

Residents of Therfield have launched a petition for those who would like to see the traditional booth, which is located on the green, kept as a village feature.

It is set to be decommissioned by BT due to lack of use, but the company would be prepared to sell it for a nominal sum, as it has done in other villages such as Kelshall.

Sylvia Drury, of Therfield, has organised the petition.

She said: "It would be a real shame to see the phone box go. They are getting rarer these days.

"We should do all we can to keep ours. It is part of the village green and part of Therfield's heritage.

"I've already had three concrete offers from people who would be willing to help with maintenance if it were to stay," she added.

The phone booth stands on land owned by the Conservators of Therfield Heath.

Andrew Glaister, from the Conservators, said the charity would be open to discussions with villagers who want the phone box to stay.

He said: "The conservators would certainly give it some thought, but we are only a charity and the question is who would maintain it?

"We are only a small charity and it is not something we would be able to take on.

"But if these people get in touch with us we would be quite happy to talk about any options they wanted to put forward."

Robert Law, chairman of Therfield parish council, said: "Because the box is on land owned by the Conservators it falls outside our remit.

"We put a notice in the parish magazine asking for people's views, but only received limited feedback," he added.