A phonebox described as a lifeline has been saved.

BT wants to remove 40 payphones across Allerdale, including one at Seathwaite in the Borrowdale Valley.

But following calls from Keswick Mountain Rescue Team to keep it, the company has decided not to remove it.

The team took to social networking website Facebook to save the phonebox.

They said: “Although this phone box may get little day- to-day use it has been, and still is, a 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.”

A BT spokesman said: “Between September 1 2015 and 31 August 31 2016, 378 calls were made from the Seathwaite public telephone, none of which were emergency calls.

“However, we have established that there is no mobile signal at this location and removal of this payphone could prevent a call to the emergency services.

“Therefore we will not be seeking to remove this payphone for the foreseeable future.”

Removal applications have also been submitted for four phones in Workington, one in Seaton, three in Keswick, two in Broughton Moor, one in Flimby, one in Camerton, two in Dearham and for phones in Naddle, Gilcrux, Low Lorton, Buttermere, Mockerkin, Embleton, Bassenthwaite, Grange, Loweswater, Thornthwaite, Applethwaite, Stair, Braithwaite, Greysouthen, Threlkeld, Portinscale, Thirlmere, Bassenthwaite, Bewaldeth, Crosby and Crosby Villa.

BT is consulting on its plans and people have 90 days from September 1 to make representations.

The spokesman said payphone use has dropped by 90 per cent in the last decade.

He added: “Any removal of payphones is carried out in strict adherence to the Ofcom guidelines.

“Where we receive objections from the local authority, we won’t remove the payphone.

“As an alternative to removal, we will continue to actively promote our adopt a kiosk scheme to all councils whilst being committed to maintaining the payphones that remain.”

Adopt a kiosk was launched in 2008 to give unused phone boxes a new lease of life.

Phoneboxes have been transformed into art galleries, defibrillators and plant shops.

The 3,000th box to be adopted was in Loweswater and a defibrillator has been installed there.