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Red phone box installed on warship

The red kiosk was brought on board while HMS Westminster was docked on the River Thames Credit: Chris Ison/PA Wire

A classic red phone box has been installed on a Royal Navy warship as a reminder of life back home as the crew take part in operations around the globe. The kiosk was brought on board HMS Westminster while she was docked on the River Thames as part of the 75th birthday celebrations for HMS Belfast.

The phone box will take up the role of the quartermaster's telephone whenever the Portsmouth-based warship is in port, both in the UK and abroad.

Workmen remove a red public phone box from Covent Garden in 2009 Credit: Yui Mok/PA

Steven Hughes, CEO of BT Payphones, said: "It's fantastic to see our red kiosk joining the ranks of the Royal Navy and I think it already looks very much at home.

"HMS Westminster travels the globe representing the UK and helps support people who find themselves in dire emergencies.

"We are really delighted to provide a kiosk that can be used by the crew when they are docked.

Our red kiosks really capture the public's imagination and many have been adopted around the UK and used in unusual ways. But being aboard a working navy ship is going to take some beating."

Deputy Mayor of London Victoria Borwick said: "The red phone box is one of our most iconic structures, one that is recognised across the globe.

"As HMS Westminster sails around the world, this great British symbol not only showcases our wonderful heritage, but also signifies the critical role that communication plays on the international stage in the 21st century."