HAVE you ever fancied adopting a red phone box and maybe using it to save lives?

You could do just that if you decide to adopt one of five local phone boxes in the Dunfermline and West Fife area for as little as £1.

BT has revealed this week that nearly 600 of its iconic red phone boxes across Scotland are up for grabs as it urges local communities to take advantage of a scheme to help transform them for the 21st century.

Since 2008, a total of 482 of them across the country have been taken on by communities for just £1 each through BT’s Adopt a Kiosk programme.

The five on offer in our local area are at: Glebe Park in Inverkeithing; Manse Place in Aberdour; South Row in Charlestown; Main Street in Limekilns; and at the Berrylaw Place junction with William Street in Dunfermline.

Redundant phone boxes, once a lifeline of communication before the arrival of mobile phone networks, have been transformed into everything from defibrillator units and mini history museums to art galleries and book exchanges.

BT will also consider adoption requests to house defibrillators in modern glass phone boxes, a potentially life-saving conversion.

Alan Lees, BT Enterprise unit director for Scotland, said: “With most people now using mobile phones, it’s led to a huge drop in the number of calls made from payphones. At the same time, mobile coverage has improved significantly in recent years due to investment in masts, particularly in rural areas.

“We’re currently rationalising our payphone estate to make it fit for the future, and the ‘Adopt a Kiosk’ scheme makes it possible for local communities in across Scotland to retain their local phone box, with a refreshed purpose for the community.

“Thousands of communities have already come up with a fantastic array of ideas to re-use their beloved local phone box. Applying is quick and easy and we’re always happy to speak to communities about adopting our phone boxes.”

Communities can adopt a kiosk if they are a recognised public body, such as a parish council, community council or town council. Boxes can also be adopted by registered charities or by individuals who have a payphone on their own land. BT will continue to provide electricity (if already in place) to power the light for adopted phone boxes, free of charge.

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