A Weymouth community group has breathed new life into a Portland BT relic - for the price of £1.

The Weymouth Operatic Society (WOS) purchased a BT red telephone kiosk in Portland and now have plans to turn it into a community hub.

WOS say the red telephone kiosk on Weston Road in Easton is an integral part of our national legacy but the growth of the mobile phone industry has resulted in the inevitably steep decline of phone box usage and in the UK nearly half of them have been removed.

The idea first came forward in November last year and so they put a bid in to purchase it.

Stella Brading, chairman of the group, said: “We had to go through several people to purchase the telephone box but when we found the right person they were very quick to come back to us and the sale went through in late March.

“We are have now looking to give the box some TLC and would welcome any help from local businesses and residents for the upkeep of this iconic structure.”

The group are also exploring a variety of uses for the box and is encouraging members of the public to put their ideas forward.

She added: “One idea is to turn it into a library where people are free to donate or borrow books or a location for people to drop off and sell their local produce.

“We are also looking at allocating a place where business can advertise while a mini art gallery is also a possibility.”

In other parts of Britain, the boxes are used as defibrillator locations, salad and coffee bars, miniature art galleries and seaside souvenir stalls.

Other kiosk owners sell homemade cakes, jams and chutneys and at Christmas, many feel obliged to decorate their kiosks and display a Christmas tree.

People can suggest their ideas or get in touch by emailing info@weymouthoperatic.org