Police officers and paramedics are teaming up to protect people on their nights out in Kent.

Two special constables are patrolling alongside a paramedic on Friday and Saturday nights at hot spots in Swale and Medway as part of a six-month pilot scheme.

The emergency services hope this cooperation will help deal with alcohol-related injuries more quickly and efficiently.

The Mercedes Vito, provided by South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) is staffed from 6pm to 2am with its base at Medway Ambulance Station in Chatham.

Calls dealt with by the joint taskforce include suspected assaults, people under the influence of alcohol, road traffic collisions and concern calls.

The street triage service for anyone dealing with a mental health crisis will still be run by Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT).

Kent Police and Crime Commissioner Matthew Scott said: "The ambulance and the police working together on this just seems to make sense and I think it's a really important collaboration.

"It will mean we will be able to free up officers time and paramedic's time too, in order to deal with other things."