UP to 60 stricken revellers were helped by angels in Bolton over Christmas.

In the run in to its seventh anniversary, Bolton Street Angels aided 10 to 15 clubbers in Bolton on their four peak days over Christmas — Mad Friday, the following Saturday, Boxing Day and New Year's Eve.

They achieved it all despite the upheaval of a move to a new base, next to En Vogue, which was then plunged into chaos on Mad Friday by a fire in the sign of the club next door.

The group has had three homes in a year, and while the Bradshawgate location of their current base is ideal, they struggle to offer the counselling they used to because of noise from the night club.

The revellers who benefited from their services helped into taxis, put in touch with loved ones or sent away by ambulance after the group raised the alarm.

A church service was held at Bank Street Unitarian Chapel on Sunday, January 25, to honour volunteers' work.

The service was attended by mayor of Bolton Cllr Martin Donaghy.

Adrienne Tonge, chair of the Street Angels, said: "We used to be able to deal with people who had problems other than things simply going wrong on nights out.

"We are so grateful to the owners of our new base, but the noise from the club does make that work less possible.

"Mainly we just bundle people into taxis now or send for family or an ambulance.

"New Year's Eve was quiet, I thought, but we saw over Christmas that so many people are still going into town having been drinking heavily at home.

"This is causing problems for venues and the police."

At the service, volunteers shared their stories of what motivated them to go out in our town helping people whose nights had gone wrong.

The evening was attended by Paul Blakey, the founder of the first Street Angels group and of the organisation that coordinates activities nationally.

The Street Angels operate in Bolton town centre every Saturday night throughout the year.

Anyone who wishes volunteer for the Bolton Street Angels and can give one Saturday night a month from 10pm until 3am is asked to visit www.bolton.streetangels.org.