A West Berkshire village has paid just £1 to save its traditional red telephone box.

Aldermaston Parish Council have adopted the box next to the village shop after operators BT announced they were planning to close it.

After only 17 calls were made from the phone in the last year the company have decided it's no longer financially viable.

Although the phone line will still be removed the casing will stay in place and could be used to display local information.

David Shirt heads up the Council and told Newbury Sound why they've decided to keep it: "They gave us an offer that we couldn't refuse. Obviously we'll have the ongoing maintenance but we think it's such a nice feature of the village, it's a real iconic symbol.

"It's a conservation village with lots of Grade 2 listed buildings and we just thought we'd want to retain it as part of our heritage."

Meanwhile Councillors in Thatcham have voted not to save their red telephone box.

At a meeting last night a majority felt the kiosk next to the level crossing in Colthrop Lane was too far out of town, and would be too difficult to maintain.

See pictures of the Aldermaston telephone box below.