Plans to turn red telephone boxes into little shops selling coffee and ice cream have been submitted to Greenwich Council.

The two phone boxes outside the Mitre Hotel on Greenwich High Road would be transformed into retail units under the proposals.

Similar phone box shops have opened by Red Kiosk Designs in Plymouth and Brighton selling hot drinks and ice cream.

In their proposal submitted to the council, Red Kiosk Designs said the idea behind the transforming the red phone boxes was to “redefine their usage to suit modern day needs and requirements without compromising their external appearance on the street scene.”

The phone boxes will be cleaned and repainted, with new tough glass installed and staff will be employed to man the miniature shops.

Red Kiosk Designs say the kiosks are “being marketed at the commuter, who will want to stop briefly to pick up a drink or snack and then move on to work, their train.”

Greenwich Council’s planning department have until September 29 to respond to the application.