Uniformed marshals will patrol Canterbury streets in a crackdown on rowdy students.

The city's two main universities are funding a trial scheme, which will see the marshals on lookout between 11pm and 4am three nights a week.

They will start during Freshers’ Week in September, when thousands of new students descend on the city.

But they will not have any powers other than asking for people’s names and addresses – although they will be able to radio police if needed.

St Stephen’s councillor Terry Westgate said: “The hope is to spare people a lot of noise caused by people walking through their streets at night.

“Even though they will only be able to take names and addresses, they will be able to direct the police to places where there are potential problems.

“We know this has been tried in other parts of the country where it appears to have worked.”

The patrol will be near the Christ Church campus at North Holmes Road and to the south of the university in roads like Forty Acres and St Michael’s Road.

The plan is for the marshals to be out on Friday and Saturday nights and on Wednesdays when the universities’ sports teams have their nights out.

Prof Rick Norman, who lives in St Michael’s Place, says he hopes it will reduce noise when it is at its worst between 2am and 4am.

He said: “They can be coming down from the Venue or going back to the university after a night in the city.

“If the marshals come across them in the street, then that’s something they can get involved in.

"What they won’t be able to deal with is the late-night student parties. That is a matter for the students to act responsibly and be good neighbours.”

In a joint statement, the city’s two main universities said they were working with their respective students’ union, police, Canterbury City Council and Canterbury residents’ associations.

“The scheme, which will be similar to those in other university towns and cities, such as Royal Leamington Spa (University of Warwick), aims to enhance student safety at night.

“Working in conjunction with residents’ associations, it also aims to promote positive community relations by encouraging students to act responsibly.

“The scheme will involve the private security company Right Guard Security having a presence in residential areas that form the main routes for students to walk home from the city’s two student club nights.”