DEVIZES town councillors have demanded the return of public phones removed by BT because, they claim, they are not used enough.

But councillors claim that the removal of the phones could put lives in jeopardy.

BT informed the town council earlier this year that it intended to take away up to 24 phones throughout Kennet district because the increased use of mobile phones had made them uneconomic.

Councillors pointed out at that meeting that some of the phones on the list had already been removed, including those at the Wharf and in Brickley Lane.

They wrote back to BT, demanding the return of the ones removed and a stay of execution on some others.

In reply, liaison officer Mary Griffiths explained that normally 42 days' notice is given before the removal of any particular public phone.

She said: "Unfortunately, in the case of Kennet, an error had occurred in our planning process and some payphone mechanisms and kiosks had been removed before the end of the consultation period.

"I am sorry that this situation occurred in Kennet and I would like to assure you that this action has not invalidated any objections that we have received regarding the kiosks in question."

She said that BT would like to "maintain the removal" of the payphone in Brickley Lane as there was another 450 metres away in Pines Road.

Town Mayor Paula Winchcombe said: "They have not even mentioned some of the phone boxes we asked them to replace.

"The one at the Wharf is crucial because of its proximity to the canal."