VANDALS smashed up a phone box that was well used within a community.

The outside of a phone box, situated on the corner of Billington Gardens near St Augustine's Primary School, on Elker Lane, Billington, was shattered by vandals last weekend.

Local groups have called for CCTV cameras to be installed after the 'second most used phone box in the Ribble Valley' was deliberately targeted.

Cllr Ged Mirfin, who represents the area, has requested for police to patrol the area to maintain the peace in the village.

Cllr Mirfin said: "The residents are absolutely devastated that this phone box has been smashed by vandals or mindless morons.

"It seems the phone box will have to be completely replaced now.

"They are devastated because we work so hard to maintain phone boxes in the Ribble Valley.

"This is the second most used phone box in the Ribble Valley and used a lot by elderly residents or those who can't afford a phone. It's a lifeline for them.

"My message to Clive Grunshaw is do not assume that because we have low crime rates we do not have crime. "It just does not tend to get reported which doesn't help when we no longer have a police desk to report this to."