A WORN down, beaten up and vandalised red telephone box in Pewsey has been given a new lease of life after it was turned into a tourist information kiosk.

Over the last few months, the Pewsey Value Tourism Partnership (PVTP), Pewsey Parish Council and the Pewsey Area Board have joined forces to renovate the Swan Corner phone box, which has been out of action for many months now after being repeatedly vandalised.

And it was on Friday, a large crowd gathered to open the suited and booted kiosk, at the junction of Everleigh Road and Swan Road, which has been fitted with tourist brochures, leaflets, maps and much more.

Patrick Wilson, chairman of the Pewsey Vale Tourism Partnership, said: "Kiosks give us the opportunity to provide information to our visitors at places that are convenient to them, such as this first one located at Swan Corner in Pewsey, in sight of the Pewsey White Horse."

The project cost around £600 and funded through the area board last September. The work was completed early in January but the launch was delayed so that it coincided with English Tourism Week (March 25-April 2).

Matthew Barnes, Great Western Railway's regional development manager for the area, said: "This week is English Tourism week, and I am delighted to be able to be here to open this information point, only too aware of the value of rail to the local economy and community."

June Pearson MBE from East Grafton has created an illustrative map of the Vale of Pewsey, showing the major landmarks and places to visit and surrounding the map is advertising space for PVTP members.