ONE of the Isle of Wight's last remaining historic red telephone boxes has been smashed to smithereens in a car crash.

The phone box has been an iconic feature of the landscape for decades, standing proud outside St Andrew's Church in Chale, on the Military Road.

Last night (Saturday), there was a two car collision and one of the vehicles smashed into the phone box.

The Isle of Wight has successfully turned many redundant red telephone boxes into community hubs, such as the little book library in Whitwell, and a tourism project in Niton.

There is a campaign running where people can adopt a box for the community.

One of the oldest working telephone boxes in the country is in Bembridge.

The County Press has asked the police for more information about the car crash in Chale.

Although the cars were badly damaged, it is not thought to have been serious in terms of injuries to the people involved. 

The road was briefly closed last night but is back open today, in time for Chale's popular car boot sale at the recreation ground.

UPDATE: Police have confirmed three people suffered minor injuries.