COUNCILLORS in Padiham are to reject proposals by British Telecom to scrap two payphones in the town.

The phone giant wants to close two of the nine phones in Padiham because they are no longer deemed to be profitable.

BT suggested the phones in Station Road and Green Street, off Hapton Road, should be axed.

However, the move was met with strong opposition when the town council met on Monday evening.

Councillor Bob Clark said the phone boxes were an important amenity to people without mobile phones and should stay in case of emergencies.

He said: "I believe strongly that the phone boxes should not be removed.

"For a company of that size I think that this is penny pinching.

"I would not like to make the decision to remove the boxes and a week later find out there was a fatality because there was no phone box available."

Paul Hendron, director of BT Payphones said: "We recognise that people have their concerns, but I reassure them that BT is still committed to the service, particularly for communities that needs us."

The council will write to BT rejecting the plan.