POLICE at Warrington are investigating after a telephone box which had been converted to a community book exchange was destroyed by vandals.
The attack was around 2am this morning in Sandy Lane, Lymm.
Firefighters from Lymm fire station used a hosereel jet to tackle the blaze.
The former telephone box – owned by Lymm Parish Council, who purchased it from BT when it was decommissioned – was almost completely wrecked.
More than 100 books were also burned and left strewn around the box.
Local Cllr Kath Buckley said: “I will be asking the Parish Council to try and replace it – if we can find a suitable replacement.
“This is awful and mindless vandalism on an easy target that is well used by the public and cherished by all who use it.”
She said the council had informed the police who would be investigating the incident.
The book swap facility celebrated its second birthday in June.
Those who manage it are now already plannhing to replace it, hopefully with a traditional red box they had always wanted.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact police on 101 or via the anonymous Crimestoppers hotline 0800 555 111.
