Street pastors will soon be helping revellers on a night out in Newton Abbot.

The charity-based project will launch in the town with a commissioning service at the Avenue Church at 7pm today.

It will be led by the Rev Les Isaac, founder of the international street pastor initiative.

The pastors will be operating on the streets of Newton Abbot initially every Saturday night from March 5.

Working in partnership with the police, local authority and other statutory agencies the team of volunteers having undergone 50 hours of professional training.

They will be going out on to the streets as a positive presence, offering practical help or a listening ear to people around our town centre.

A typical evening could involve: calming emotional or aggressive situations, basic welfare for people heavily in drink,  reducing vulnerability of lone individuals, calling an ambulance for someone who has fallen ill,   giving out flip-flops to revellers who can no longer walk in their high heels.

Chairman Peter Snook said: 'Street Pastors is an inter-denominational Church initiative engaging with anyone in need on the streets. We are there simply to help, listen and care – we are not there to judge or preach.'

'There are more than 200 initiatives in towns and cities around the United Kingdom and where teams already operate there have been some remarkable results, including a reduction in crime.

'Our aim is to make our town centre a safer and more peaceful place for all during the evening and early hours'.

It is hoped that in the future they will be able to extend operations to cover Friday evenings and also offer a 'safe bus' to help people home.