Plans to remove 24 payphones in the Colchester area are to be considered by the council.

British Telecom, as part of its constant review of the usage of payphones, has written to the borough council to ask for approval to get rid of the unprofitable machines.

It says the 24, which are mainly in villages surrounding Colchester, are among 60 per cent which do not make any money, with almost 6,000 across the country being used to make one call a month.

A spokesman for BT said payphone usage has halved in the last two years.

The council has also been informed that other kiosks are also to be taken away, but these do not need its permission because they are in places where there are more than one phone close to each other and it is a question of "thinning the estate".

"Any removal of unprofitable payphones is carried out in strict adherence to the Ofcom guidelines and, where appropriate, with the consent of the local communities," said the BT spokesman.

kiosks "We have contacted Colchester Council to consult with them on our plan to remove 24 payphones.

"UK-wide, less than one call a week is made from more than half the kiosks in the consultation, and less than one call a month is made from a third."

The council has to be consulted when there is not another payphone within 400 metres of the one which is set to be removed.

The spokesman said if there is a "clear social need", then the phones will remain.

Those under consultation are in: Easthorpe Road, Easthorpe; Ford Street, Aldham; Moat Road, Fordham; Keelers Way, Great Horkesley; Dedham Road, Boxted; Long Road East, Dedham; Wick Road, Langham; Smythes Green, Layer Marney; Blackberry Road, Stanway; East Road, East Mersea; Cowdray Avenue, Colchester; Chapel Road, Abberton Road, Layer de la Haye; Church Road, Layer De La Haye; Mersea Road, Abberton; Maldon Road, Great Wigborough; Colchester Road, Wivenhoe; Bergholt Road, Colchester; West End Road, Tiptree; Middle Green, Wakes Colne; Colchester Road, Chappel; Main Road, Wormingford; and Hall Road, Mount Bures.