Christmas revellers will be able to get help, support or a friendly ear to talk to when Colchester's street pastors hit the town for the first time on Friday.
Around 16 volunteers from local churches, wearing distinctive uniforms, will be out and about from 10pm to 4am.
They will be patrolling Colchester's streets every Friday from now on and expect to start covering Saturdays from next year.
The scheme was formally launched on Saturday, when council officials and Essex Police welcomed it as a means of increasing safety and reducing crime at night.
- More in tomorrow's Gazette
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