A LISTED telephone box that was due to have a defibrillator installed inside collapsed into the ground during water pipe works.

The deactivated red phone box began sinking yesterday in Jasper’s Green, Braintree.

Anglian Water engineers were working to fix a burst main in the area beneath the phone box, that had affected residents of the area a few days earlier.

The team attempted to repair the pipe by diverting it around the edge of the phone box to avoid damaging it, however as a result of ground movement, the telephone box has fallen and started to sink.

A spokesman for Anglian Water said: “We have taken the phone box off site to be repaired and will return it to the site once the pipe has been fixed.

“We’ve been in contact with the local parish council and Community Heartbeat Trust and will make a donation towards the cost of the life-saving defibrillator that is planned to be housed in the phone box.

“We’re sorry for the inconvenience and disruption this work has caused to the local community and would like to thank them for their patience while we complete this vital work.”

The electrics have temporarily been disconnected and the mains water has had to be switched off temporarily.

One residents of Jasper’s Green said: “A parish councillor contacted the local bus company who have continued to run the service using the short diversion route which is a single track lane.

“The bus drivers have been coping well with using a very difficult route and should be thanked.

“Anglian Water have been very proactive regarding the situation.”