A LOCAL historian is hoping to raise £250 to restore a retired red telephone box in Irby.

The K6 telephone box, based on Hillview Road, has been out of use for some time and historian Ken Burnley now wants to restore the box with the idea of giving it back to the community.

Ken has also approached Andy Barrett, who was one of the leading figures behind the restoration of the OMD phone box in Meols, to help with the campaign.

The iconic OMD 623 3003 phone box on Greenwood Road is beloved by fans as it is the focus of the band's second single Red Frame/White Light.

In the late 1970s the box was used by OMD members to make calls to organise their early gigs and the number - 632 3003 - is a key feature of Red Frame/White Light lyrics.

In 2017 it was removed as part of BT's payphone removal programme, with no objections having been received as part of the public consultation process towards the end of 2016.

But when fans realised that it had been removed, they campaigned for its reinstatement as a tourist attraction and it has now been reinstated.

Wirral Globe:

The Hillview Road telephone box

Now, a Crowdfunding page has been set up to raise cash to help clean and repaint the Hillview phonebox before it can be transformed.

Andy said: "We have been given the wonderful opportunity of turning a retired red K6 telephone box, into a space that can be used for the whole community of Irby.

"Lots of discussion has taken place, and it has been decided before an ultimate use has been decided.

"The box needs to be cleaned, primed and repainted to phonebox currant red.

"We are prepared to do the work needed but materials will cost. Restoring and making ship-shape the telephone box obviously incurs some cost. So please give generously towards this worthy community project."

Anyone who wants to donate to the Hillview Road red telephone box can do so via https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/hillview1211

To keep updated with the project, join https://www.facebook.com/groups/Hillview1211/