A DECOMMISSIONED telephone box in a rural village has been transformed into a community book box.
The telephone box on the A49 in Cotebrook was put out of use by BT last year. The phone box, which is a landmark in the village and for those who go through the area, was set to be removed.
Utkinton and Cotebrook Parish Council Vice Chairman Geoff Hope Terry said: “The parish council thought it was rather a shame that this local landmark was going to disappear. So we decided to see of we could keep the box for the village.”
Under a BT scheme the parish council was able to purchase the box for a penny and they have now turned it into a book box.
Geoff said: “We put shelves up in the box and made it water tight and secure, it now holds around 80 books.
“Anyone in the village can go and choose a book and swap it for one of their own. They can pick up a hardback and leave a paperback, we don’t mind as long as a swap is made.
“We also have an area for notices for visitors, such as information on the Shire Horse Centre.”
Geoff said they are also encouraging the community to come up with other ideas for the box.
He added: “We want it to be for the community and we hope the villagers can come up with some ideas for the box.”
