But some local councillors claim BT may cut out a valuable public service as a result.

Built up areas will suffer the least losses while rural parts of the county will be worst hit in a nationwide phone cull by the company as it seeks to streamline its call box network in line with declining usage in favour of mobile phones.

Two are to go in Billinghay, while dozens of villages will lose their only public call box. In town, kiosks on the corner of Tennyson Avenue, on Lincoln Road and outside Quarrington Church Hall on Grantham Road will go.

North Kesteven district councillor for Sleaford Peter Haysum said: "It will certainly have an effect. There must still be people using those kiosks at times of the day and night – certainly in an emergency. It is a public service and should be retained."

But he admitted it may be a fact of life as more and more people own mobile phones.

The only call box in Silk Willoughby, on Gorse Lane, will be going. Parish council chairman Paul Steer said: "Maybe it is not as relevant as it would have been years ago. But no doubt a number of people in the village and people travelling through would be losing that public service."

Paul Hayward of BT said over the years usage has declined and BT has been constantly reviewing and where necessary rationalising its payphone estate to meet demand.

He said: "Almost 60 per cent of our payphones are unprofitable, with almost 6,000 phones making less than one call a month. Payphone usage has halved in the last two years and calls are still declining at 20 per cent year on year."

BT have contacted South Kesteven District Council to consult with them on plans to remove 72 payphones, and North Kesteven District Council to consult on 46 payphones. More will be thinned out where it is deemed kiosks are too close together.

Mr Hayward added: "In all instances where there is not another payphone within 400 metres we need the local authority's consent to remove the kiosk and if there is a clear social need for those phones then they won't be removed."

Sleaford area payphones facing the axe are:

East Heckington; outside village Sport and Social Club, Cranwell; Main Rd, Leadenham; High Street, Brant Broughton; Vicarage Lane, Harmston; Church Street, Carlton Le Moorland; Sleaford Road, Nocton Heath; Rectory Road, Coleby; Digby Rd, Rowston; Church St, Digby; Church Avenue, Ashby De La Launde; Main St, Kirkby Green; Main Street, Nocton; Potterhanworth Road, Nocton; Moorland Trading Estate, Metheringham; High Street, Martin; Main Street, North Kyme; Walcott Road, Billinghay; Church St, Billinghay; High Street, South Kyme; Laundon Rd, Threekingham; junc North Rd/Tennyson Ave, Sleaford; Nr Church Hall, Grantham Rd, Sleaford; Lincoln Rd, Sleaford; Mount Lane, Kirkby La Thorpe; Gorse Lane, Silk Willoughby; Washdyke Lane, Leasingham; High St, Swaton; Grantham Rd, Culverthorpe; Swarby Village, Swarby; Aunsby; Burton Pedwardine; east entrance Rauceby Hospital, South Rauceby; Main Street, Sudbrook; Normanton; outside Social Club, Hougham; Main St, Honington; Sub PO, Hough On The Hill; opposite Rectory Lane, Fulbeck Heath; High St, Caythorpe; opposite Chestnuts Farm, Sapperton; Paddock Close, Ropsley; Billingborough Rd, Horbling; Elizabeth Drive/Pointon Rd, Billingborough; Oasby; Grinders Lane, Rippingale; Fen Rd, Dowsby; Main Rd, Dunsby; High St, Rippingale; Rippingale Rd, Kirkby Underwood.