WEE COUNTY groups are being offered the chance to adopt a piece of local heritage for £1.

BT have given community councils and local authorities the opportunity to take control of old-fashioned red phone boxes which can still be found in the streets.

Communities across Scotland have already adopted 370 payphones, with more than 700 still available – including 25 red telephone boxes in Clacks.

They have transformed into mini-libraries, mini art museums, cake shops, information centres and housing units for public access defibrillators.

One payphone in Devon, England, was even turned into the "world's smallest nightclub."

A spokesperson for BT added: "We have 25 red kiosks still in Clacks and some of them could potentially be adopted.

"We do also allow people to apply to adopt the more modern style ones, but they tend to be less popular.

"We'd consider any applications and make a decision on each one based on a number of factors as we will still need to maintain a network of payphones of course.

"So far in Clacks, no payphones have been adopted by communities."

BT will also consider adoption requests to house defibrillators in more modern kiosks and will continue to provide electricity, if it is still in place, to power the light for adopted kiosks, free of charge.

Indeed, where electricity is available, adopted boxes can be used as housings for defibrillators. Many communities in Clacks already have such life-saving devices up and running in public areas – a move which has been backed by the Advertiser.

Jane Wood, BT Group Scotland director, added: "We're pleased to be giving even more local communities the chance to adopt a phone box. With more than 370 payphones now adopted across Scotland, this is a fantastic opportunity for communities to own a piece of history.

"The opportunities are endless and we've already seen some amazing transformations. Applying is easy and quick and we're always happy to speak to communities about adopting our traditional BT red payphone boxes."

Communities can adopt a phone booth if they are a recognised public body, such as a community council or local authority.

Boxes can also be adopted by registered charities or by individuals who have a payphone on their own land.

Most people now have a mobile phone and calls made from public telephones have fallen by around 90 per cent in the past decade.

For further details on how to apply to Adopt a Kiosk, simply go to bt.com/adopt where application forms and information can be found.