WORK has been ongoing for some time in Bolton on how to feel secure during a night out in Bolton - and how to get home safely.

Posters advertising the Ask for Angela scheme are a common feature in the boroughs pubs and clubs.

Those behind the nationwide campaign are aiming to reduce violence and harassment against women when they are out and about in town and city centres up and down the land.

Under their aims, it means that anyone visiting a participating hospitality venue, such as bars and clubs, can ask for ‘Angela’ to discreetly signal to staff that you feel unsafe or threatened and would like assistance.

Council officials say the introduction of this scheme is helping to prevent unwanted attention within the night-time Economy and continues to reduce vulnerability for female residents.

In tandem with this, there is also the Get Home Safe campaign, which was launched in December 2018 and targets the use of unauthorised taxis by customers who are potentially vulnerable as a result of alcohol consumption or becoming isolated from friends.

Safeguarding training has been rolled out to all new and existing taxi drivers in the borough.

Elsewhere there are taxi marshals, which were first introduced to the town centre in 2018, and operate on Fridays and Saturdays and during any major events.

Marshals have a visible presence to make sure there is an orderly queue at taxi ranks and help make sure everyone gets home safely.