STREET pastors will be celebrating a year of making Stroud town centre a safer place on Saturday nights.

Mistaken by some revellers as FBI agents in their dark blue uniform, a team of four pastors work from 10pm on Saturday to 4am on Sunday every weekend.

In their first 12 months, pastors have collected 624 glass bottles and glasses, handed out 312 pairs of flip-flops and 524 plastic bottles of water.

The team has helped 156 people involved in significant incidents and supported six people with first aid while waiting for ambulances to arrive.

But the help goes beyond such statistics, as the presence of Street Pastors has helped to diffuse tension where fights seemed likely to break out, and also an escort for young women walking alone from the clubs to the taxi rank.

A special service of thanksgiving to celebrate the milestone will be held at Stroud Baptist Church in John Street this Saturday at 8pm.

Paul Summersby, co-ordinator, said: “People tell us that they feel safer when Street Pastors are around – police, door staff and clubbers have all said the atmosphere is calmer, and we’ve been thanked again and again for ensuring people made it home safely.”

Street pastors are unpaid helpers from churches across Stroud.

Working alongside the police, their role includes assisting those who are in a distressed state or have become detached from their friends to get home, handing out bottles of water and foil blankets, administering first aid, and even providing flip flops to women walking the streets barefoot.

Funding for equipment and set up costs has been provided by Stroud District Council and a grant from the police and crime commissioner’s fund.

Cedria Clifton, street pastor, said: “It’s really about helping people with whatever difficulty they may happen to have.

“We’re just there to show the love of Christ in a practical way and bring peace and calm to the streets.”