The National Telephone Kiosk Collection at Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings in Bromsgrove, West Midlands, has reopened after a major refurbishment and re-display.

The collection forms part of BT's Connected Earth initiative, officially launched in April by Tessa Jowell MP, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

Dr Simon Penn, director of Avoncroft Museum, said: "Telephone kiosks continue to fascinate children and adults alike despite the arrival of mobile phones and other new technologies. Our volunteers have done a great job ensuring they are all spick and span - and in working order."

There are more than 25 telephone kiosks in the collection - representing most styles and designs - which have been restored and enhanced by brand new interpretive panels, featuring many historic images unearthed from the BT Archives.

Already very popular with young visitors and families, the new exhibition aims to provide straightforward, easy to absorb information on clearly designed graphic panels, next to each kiosk.

The area also features street furniture, police boxes, including the famous Dr Who 'Tardis' design, and roadside assistance boxes, as well as a 1950s telephone exchange in a wooden building.

Volunteer guides spend time showing visitors - children in particular - how the phones work, and they can make calls from one box to another, using coins and a telephone dial.