It seems an age since the red 'phone kiosk was a lifeline in emergencies, although the feverishly innovating world needs to remember that there are still some people without home lines, let alone mobiles.

Their ranks are thinning, however, and more and more cases are emerging of the famous little structures finding alternative uses, while remaining as features of the UK landscape, like church spires and lych gates.

Here's an example which nicely honours that lifeline tradition. The village of Ovington in Northumberland is using its kiosk, decommissioned by British Telecom in the spring of this year, to house a defibrillator for heart emergencies.

The scheme is a nice piece of recycling altogether; the defibrillator itself was donated by Morpeth Rotary after being mothballed and left unused for four years (Yes, it does still work, after a thorough going-over). Its installation came top in a local poll on a list of suggestions, although it will not have the box entirely to itself.

They made the British Design Classics stamp issue in 2008 Photograph: Royal Mail/AFP/Getty

Ovington parish council is using the rest of the booth as a mini information centre, with maps of local walking routes and guides to the area's many attractions. The defibrillator will have a container with a security code and villagers are to be briefed on access and use.

British Telecom has agreed to provide free power to the box for another seven years but villagers will do the maintenance. Red phone boxes have become famous in recent years for competitive standards of care, with a growing number featuring such attractions as carpet and (reassuringly for anyone who recalls the famous 'phone box odour') fresh flowers.

Andrew Mate from the parish council said that installation, recharging of batteries and other equipment and related costs would take about £1000 from village funds. He says:

We have decided to meet the full cost of the reconditioning, and hope the work will be completed within the next few weeks. We are grateful to all concerned, and look forward to the day when the phone box is again serving a good purpose.



Adele Young, community resuscitation co-ordinator for the North East Ambulance Service (aren't jobs interesting these days?), says:

The value to the community is obvious. When we checked the defibrillator, the batteries and pads were completely flat - they all need new ones after a certain length of time. But if Ovington had bought a defibrillator, it would have cost in the region of £1,700, so they got a good bargain. We need to order a container box and then I will do some instruction sessions in the community.

More phone box ideas, please.