Public telephone boxes face the axe as part of a national viability programme.

BT is undertaking a six-week consultation process which involves the review of its call boxes, many in remote rural areas, which are not paying their way. The number of calls from BT payphones has almost halved in the last three years, with a 41pc drop in revenue.

Spokesman Paul Dorrell said an increase in the use of mobile phones meant that public phones were becoming underused.

He added: "We have written to local authorities, parish councils and MPs regarding the consultation exercise and have put up notices in the boxes being considered for removal."

Boxes to be affected include 38 in Hambleton, 28 in Richmondshire, 27 in Ryedale and ten in Darlington.

The move has prompted anger from people in some more isolated communities.

However, Mr Dorrell said that it was not a foregone conclusion that all boxes would face the chop.

He said: "This will be a lengthy process during which residents are being urged to make their views known to their local authority planning department.

"Decisions will not be made overnight. We will take into account the feedback we receive and it will be several months after that before any decisions are taken."