RURAL residents near St Boswells are open to suggestions after acquiring their condemned phone box.

Local campaigners in and around Longnewton hit out after BT decided to pull out of the hamlet.

Following intervention from local councillor Scott Hamilton and members of the local community council, the phone box was sold to the community for £1.

Following a clean-up of the box as well as fundraising to give it a sustainable future, members of the community are open to suggestions for its use.

Gina Allen, chair of the Longnewton Community Group, believes it has been important to maintain the phone box.

She said: “We contacted our local councillor, Scott Hamilton, who alongside Ancrum Community Council helped with the purchase of this phone box.

"I am delighted that it all worked out and we are now able to unveil to the community our new purchase.

“Going forward the residents of Longnewton have great ideas as to what they will do with the phone box.

"Today we are saying thank you to everyone who has contributed their labour, fund raised or baked a cake for our coffee morning.

"It’s a great little area and everyone has taken pride in the work we have achieved.”

The phone box received an official opening last week accompanied by home baking and a barbecue provided by Grant Todd of Greenend Farm.

Ideas put forward so far for its use include a mini library, a defibrillator or a bring and buy shop.

Councillor Scott Hamilton added: “It’s been great working with everyone seeing this project come together.

"It was one of the first things I did when I got elected as the phone box was so close to being taken away a decision that we couldn’t reverse. We have had a laugh and real sense of community with this project.

"Everyone has pulled together to make this possible and we have had so much fun along the way. The practicality of retaining the phone box will be seen in the coming years and I have no doubt that this will be a long-standing community attribute."