Four groups of volunteers will be out on the streets of Telford to help late-night revellers stay out of danger.

Sixteen people, who will be split into four teams of four, joined a new street pastor service which was launched in the borough on Friday .

Street pastors will be sent out on the streets of the borough on Friday and Saturday nights to help late night revellers who may get into difficulty after leaving a pub or club.

Co-ordinator Reverend Keith Osmund-Smith said the pastors would bring extra safety to the streets.

He said: “The launch night was a great success. We had representatives from West Mercia Police, the leader of Telford & Wrekin council and church leaders all in attendance.

“As far as the street pastor scheme goes, we like to think of this as the ‘Urban Trinity’ – a partnership between three separate bodies all working together for safer streets.

“Friday night marked the launch of the street pastors training, we had 16 volunteers turn out which is enough for four teams.”

Mr Osmund-Smith said the Telford street pastors would be the first in Shropshire to hit the streets when their training is complete in July.

He said the other 206 street pastor branches operating in Britain had proved their presence had significantly reduced street crime and anti-social behaviour.

He said: “Telford is following in the footsteps of hundreds of other towns and cities across the UK where the presence of street pastors has dramatically reduced crime and injury and incidents of anti-social behaviour.

“There are around 6,000 street pastors nationwide and if anyone local would like to volunteer we would encourage them to put themselves forward.”

Street pastors work a minimum of one night a month, usually from 10pm to around 4am.

People who want to be a street pastor need to be over the age of 18, a church member, have a complete CRB check and be able to commit to a full training programme.

Miles Hosken, cabinet member at Telford & Wrekin Council, said: “This scheme is a good example of the council, police and the community working together in order to reduce crime and help direct young people by offering support and advice to encourage them to play a full and positive part in our community.”

By Peter Finch