Campaigners are thrilled that it is no longer the end of the line for three of Helsby’s phone boxes which BT proposed to get rid of.

The village’s iconic red phone box on Chester Road and those at The Paddock on Alvanley Road and opposite Bates Lane on Chester Road were under threat due to a lack of use but hundreds of residents got behind the fight to save them by signing a petition.

Even pupils at Helsby Hillside Primary School embraced the cause by producing ‘save our phone box’ posters which were placed in shop windows.

But BT has revealed that the facilities will remain, thanks to Cheshire West and Chester Council’s intervention.

A spokesman for BT explained: “Cheshire West and Chester Council objected to the removal of the phone boxes in question.

“We’ve recently consulted with a number of public bodies throughout the country on the removal of phone boxes.

“If a public body has raised an objection to the removal of a phone box then we won’t be taking it away.”

Graham Evans MP supported the campaign to save the phone boxes
Graham Evans MP supported the campaign to save the phone boxes

Lance Yates, who spearheaded the campaign, argued the phone boxes should be retained in case of emergencies and because of their value as interesting street furniture.

He said: “From at one point thinking that Helsby was likely to lose three phone boxes to this, we are very pleased.

“I presume that the petitions made them realise that they are a community amenity.

“I am sure that the people who signed the petitions are pleased too and we hope that common sense has played a part in this.

“We gave BT good reasons why we thought they should stay.”

Weaver Vale MP Graham Evans said he was ‘delighted’ by the news.

“There was a lot of concern in the locality when their removal was proposed and I was very happy to lend my support to the campaign to keep the boxes,” he said.

“It is reassuring that they will stay in place and continue to be of use to everyone who lives in or passes through this lovely area.”