But senior officials have told the telecoms giant that they object to the removal of the payphone service and don't want to take on the kiosks.

In a joint report to the policy, finance and asset management committee, head of development services Keith Winter and head of community services Joe Fitzpatrick said that although the redundant phone boxes had a price tag of just £1, adopting them would cost the council hundreds of pounds per box in maintenance costs or disconnection fees.

In the case of those boxes that are listed, such as those in Logie and Craigrothie, further costs would be incurred because their removal would need listed building consent.

In addition, the loss of a public telephone would have a negative impact in areas where people were on low incomes or didn't have a mobile phone and they would be unable to make emergency calls.

The officials were also concerned that if no community councils or local groups were willing to adopt a box, the council would be lumbered with the responsibility for them.

The report included statistics that showed that only six out of 23 phone boxes had had no calls made from them last year — those in Auchtermuchty, Gateside, Bow of Fife, Brunton, Craigrothie and Banknowe Drive, Tayport.

Read more in the Fife Herald and St Andrews Citizen.