LONDON: London’s famous red telephone boxes are turning green thanks to a new phone booth unveiled Wednesday that runs on solar power and allows people to charge up their mobile devices.

Largely made redundant by the prevalence of mobile phones, the green boxes are an attempt to breathe life back into a British national icon that often lingers on in a dilapidated state.

The first “solarbox” was unveiled on Wednesday outside Tottenham Court Road underground station, at the busy intersection with Oxford Street, London’s main shopping thoroughfare.

The new boxes are painted green and are powered by a solar panel on the roof and more are planned in the months to come. Inside, there are four chargers, allowing people to power up mobile phones or tablets.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2014