MELKSHAM mayor Terri Welch is disgusted with the behaviour of vandals who have been smashing telephone kiosks in the town.

Thugs have targeted kiosks in the Market Place and Queensway, punching and kicking the glass out.

Cllr Welch said the phones seemed to becoming a magnet for trouble during the winter months.

"I think the vandalism is totally mindless," she said. "We all know the glass that disintegrates breaks into bits but small children still play with it. Children are putting other kids at risk.

"We have had telephone booths removed because of low usage and we want to protect the ones that are still with us.

"We don't want BT to say it is not prepared to continue the service because of this."

Acting Inspector Sarah Bodell, of Melksham Police, said until recently there had not been a problem with kiosks being vandalised.

"BT has looked at a number of ways to prevent it from happening," she said.