FRUSTRATED villagers have been left baffled as to how a cast iron telephone box disappeared in broad daylight.

The traditional red phone box vanished from its spot on Eye Lane, Ashton, between 9am and 11am on Wednesday June 17.

A motorist spotted that the phone box was missing from its usual place and reported it to a parish councillor who later discovered that the removal had not been authorised by BT.

The phone box had been in its normal position the previous evening and at 8am that morning.

A statement on behalf of local residents said: "BT removed the electricity several years ago so that the box was no longer lit up at night, but the thieves had taken the precaution of cutting the cable before they whisked the kiosk away.

"These phone boxes are cast iron so heavy lifting gear and more than just one person must have been involved."

The original design was created by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott. This version, the K6 or 'The Jubilee Kiosk' came into production in 1936, the Silver Jubilee of King George V, and was not superseded until 1968.

A spokesman for BT confirmed the payphone was removed without BT’s knowledge and not as part of the company's payphone review and consultation process.

Anyone with information regarding the theft should contact police on 101.