Trowbridge pastors in switch to Saturday nights (From This Is Wiltshire)

A team of street pastors that helps revellers on nights out in Trowbridge will be patrolling on Saturdays rather than Fridays from this weekend.

The volunteer team of 18 is moving to Saturday nights as it believes it is the busier evening in the town and members may be of more help that night, to those who are worse for wear.

Over the last three and a half years, a group of between four and six street pastors has taken to the streets on Friday nights.

Stewart Palmen, the co-ordinator for the Trowbridge Street Pastors, said: “Recently, we have been finding Friday nights increasingly quiet and our support has sometimes not really been needed, whereas Saturdays have been getting busier.

“We have been providing help for people in need, anything from flip flops to lollipops and water, or simply some helpful, sober advice and aid.”

Tomorrow, the group will be experiencing a Trowbridge Saturday night out for the first time, meeting at 10pm at St Thomas’ Church, then taking to the streets at 10.30pm.

Mr Palmen said: “We start at pubs on the outskirts and then, as time passes, we move closer to the town centre, where we are then based for the night.

“We are all looking forward to the change, as we want to be busier, although we think it’ll probably be a later night than Fridays tend to be.

“The experience of helping people is always very encouraging and we have got a huge amount of positive feedback, as most people tend to know someone who has been assisted.”

The pastors use the Salvation Army’s base, in Castle Street, as a venue to help those in need.

The team, organised by an inter-denominational group of Trowbridge churches and supported by police and publicans, expect to be out until 4.30am.

The Trowbridge group is keen for more volunteers, so it could cover both Friday and Saturdays.

Mr Palmen said: “People need to be a Christian and recommended by a pastor or priest.”

For more information, email trowbridge@streetpastors.org.uk