Under new proposals the telecom giant is investigating whether councils or community groups could take over the running of the red kiosks.

It follows the announcement by BT that it is to close 9000 of its 62,000 payphones across the country. The company says the increase in mobile phone use has made nearly two-thirds of them unprofitable.

However, Ian Livingston, chief executive of BT, stressed that, while the new plan was being considered, no more phone boxes would be axed.

Members of local community groups revealed that they would consider the proposal.

Walter Douglas, secretary of Airth Community Council, said: "The phone box has been around in the village for a long time and is still well used and I think we would oppose to it being closed.

"But any measure about maintaining the phone boxes would have to be discussed further at a meeting of the community council.

Charles Ambrose, convener of Brightons Community Council, said: "A number of local people still use the phone box, so it was to close that would be something we would certainly be interested in discussing at the community council."

Meanwhile, Margaret Mitchell, Conservative MSP for Central Scotland, has also called on Falkirk Council to request an extension to the BT Scotland consultation over the removal of rural phone boxes.

She said: "I am concerned that BT Scotland's consultation with local authorities has been focused only on feedback from planning departments, and not on those departments which have responsibility for the use of community facilities, or community councils and the general public.

"Furthermore, it appears that too little attention has been paid to saving phone boxes in areas where mobile phone reception is too weak or non-existent.

"While everyone understands that BT Scotland needs to make changes to the public telephone service in our towns and cities where they are little used, it is nonetheless entirely different when it comes to some of the rural areas within each local authority."

A council spokesperson said: "The views received by the council raised concerns mainly for the phone box in Grangemouth, although there was also a concern for the phone box in Hallglen.

''Officers had concerns for the Grangemouth phone box on heritage grounds.

"This information has been forwarded to BT as part of a full response to their consultation. However, we have urged BT to take cognisance of the socio-economic factors when considering the removal or retention of payphones from the particular locations discussed."