Phone boxes get lick of paint for birthday

Samantha Doyle, of Maidenbower, said they should be made into listed buildings.

Sam, 46, said it was a ‘national disgrace’ that the iconic boxes were left in a state of disrepair and called on people not to allow the boxes to ‘blend into their subconsciousness’.

She said: “I would like to see all of the phone boxes in the UK painted and done up.

“These phone boxes are still working and they are an integral part of our society.

“In the age of mobile phones, if you’ve got no battery or cannot get a signal where do you go? You go to a phone box.”

Crawley has boxes in Grattons Drive and Northgate in need of a revamp.

Sam said BT repainted three boxes - one near her workplace in Handcross and two on Brighton seafront - after she asked last year.

Mum-of-three Sam said doing up the cultural icons would show people’s love for the Queen ahead of her official birthday in June.

She pointed out the kiosks were redesigned to celebrate King George’s - the Queen’s father - silver jubilee in 1935.

The box in Handcross High Street was near Nymans - the former family home of the Queen’s brother-in-law, Lord Snowdon.

Sam, co-owner of Fountain Therapies, said: “The phone box looked really fed up and unloved.

“It just looked awful and I though this is part of our heritage, it’s part of our national identity.”

Sam said a spruced-up made phone box made people proud of their area and national identity.

A BT spokesman said: “We are able to offer residents and local councils the chance to paint the kiosk for special occasions.

“We will happily provide paint and brushes for painting the kiosk, for a significant date such as the Queen’s birthday.

“Residents can email [email protected]”