Street pastors began patrolling Trowbridge streets on Friday night seeking to offer support to any revellers requiring their help.

Twenty three pastors took to the streets after being commissioned in front of a congregation at Bethesda Baptist Church in Gloucester Road, and a representative of the Ascension Trust, which runs the scheme.

The volunteers stayed out until 5am chatting to and looking after those needing help.

Trowbridge street pastors chairman, David Goldstone, said: “It went brilliantly. We were really welcomed and had lots of people coming up and saying they can’t believe we were there to help them. The pubs, wine bars and taxi people were all very positive. It was an amazing response.“ Over the course of the night the pastors spoke to numerous people who were upset or needed a sympathetic ear, and helped two people reach home safely.

Organised by an inter-denominational group of Trowbridge churches, street pastors are Christians with a concern for society, but aren’t out to preach, just offering support. Although all 23 volunteer pastors went out on Friday night, from now on there will be a team of 4-6 in Trowbridge town centre each Friday night as they take turns to go out.

Mr Goldstone said: “We’re just there to help people who need it and we’re happy to chat to everyone. We’re certainly not any sort of law enforcement, although the police are very positive about what we’re doing.”

Supported by police and local authorities, the scheme has gone nationwide after starting in London in 2003, with more than 100 groups nationwide.

Swindon and Bath already have street pastor groups, with one due to launch in Salisbury in a couple of weeks. The Trowbridge scheme was suggested by local Christian Lee Daniell after watching a TV documentary about street pastors and received a very positive response.