KESWICK Mountain Rescue Team is fighting to keep a payphone at Seathwaite in Borrowdale which they say is a "real lifeline".

The payphone is one of 44 which BT wants to close down across west Cumbria. Although many have had less than 10 calls over the last 12 months - and 16 haven't been used at all - others have been used hundreds of times.

Keswick Mountain Rescue Team is particularly concerned about the payphone at Seathwaite, which has been used 378 times in the last 12 months.

It posted on Facebook: "Although this phone box may get little day to day use in this age of mobile phones, it has been and still is a real lifeline during emergencies. There is no phone reception on any network at the head of the valley and so it remains the only public form of communication to the police and mountain rescue."

The team is calling on people to help by commenting on BT's planning application to Allerdale Council.

The consultation period will close on Wednesday, November 30.

In the consultation letter, BT writes: "Overall use of payphones has declined by over 90 per cent in the last decade and the need to provide payphones for use in emergency situations is diminishing all the time, with at least 98 per cent of the UK having either 3G or 4G coverage."

Payphones are also under threat in Crosby Villa, Broughton Moor, Crosby, Camerton, Workington, Seaton, Applethwaite, Loweswater, Mockerkin, Buttermere, Low Lorton, Dearham, Micklethwaite, Blindcrake, Sebergham, Greysouthen, Boltongate, Flimby, Threlkeldn, Braithwaite, Thornthwaite, Grange, Bassenthwaite, Embleton, Bewaldeth, Thilrmere, Portinscale, Naddle, Browfoot, Keswick, Wigton and Gilcrux.

The most highly used payphones under threat are Westfield Drive, Workington, - 937 calls in last 12 months, Seathwaite, Keswick, and Grange, Keswick, - 169.