VOLUNTEERS will hit town centre streets for the first time this weekend to help youngsters who have drunk too much or have become separated from pals.

The Street Angels scheme was announced last year, but the project has taken nine months to get off the ground.

A similar initiative already operates in Halifax, where it has proved successful in reducing alcohol-related injuries.

The Angels will walk the street in groups of three, offering support to anyone who may need help.

The group will be based at the Safe Space Cafe in Bank Street Chapel.

The cafe will act as a waiting point for lifts home, as well as offering non-alcoholic drinks, toilets and help with booking taxis. Organiser Adrienne Tonge said: “We want to go out among revellers, offering support where it is needed.

“It has taken us a while to get the scheme up and running but now we’ve got the police on board and we hope it will be a success.”

Street Angels has the full backing of Greater Manchester Police and training and support is being provided by Insp Phil Spurgeon, who leads the Bolton Town Centre Neighbourhood Policing Team.

Insp Spurgeon said: “Street Angels will give us a lift with some of the people who might take us away from our main policing role.

“I’ve always said 99.5 per cent of people who come to enjoy Bolton are decent people and this scheme will help those people if they need help. The police are there to deal with the other 0.5 per cent.”

Insp Spurgeon said Bolton had seen a reduction of a third in violent crime over the last three years. Street Angels will patrol the streets every Saturday night. The scheme will eventually run on Fridays as well.