A service to help revellers get home safely will hit the streets by Christmas.

The Medway Street Pastors team will be out patrolling Rochester High Street once a week in a bid to keep vulnerable youngsters safe.

The scheme was launched at the Visitor Centre in Rochester last Thursday and is backed by Medway Police and Medway Council.

The service will work in Rochester High Street when the pubs and clubs turn out on Friday nights.

It’s been set up by a Medway church congregation who will go through rigorous training to ensure their own safety and the safety of revellers.

The idea for the scheme was born in early 2007, when the Rev Richard Alford, vicar of the Vines Church, was moved by the death of Chatham man Terry Reynolds.

Terry died after accidentally falling into the River Medway after leaving a nightclub in the town on New Year’s Eve, 2006. His body was found three weeks later in Halling.

Support

His mum Jane, sister Laurie and aunt Janet went to the launch to give it their full support.

At the launch, members of the community, landlords, church members and the police were invited to find out all about the pastors.

Group co-ordinator Allan Dyke said: “Training will start in October and we will be ready to start patrolling by Christmas.

“We have seven volunteers so far and another 10 people have said they are interested in joining us.

“When we start patrolling, we will be in groups of four and we will have a prayer pastor back at base to provide prayer support.

“We will be patrolling from about 10pm to 4am and will be listening to young people and engaging with them to see what their needs are.

“If they need assistance getting home, we will help them.

“We won’t be paying for people to get a taxi home, but if they can’t call one themselves, we may do that for them.

“If they were injured, we will call the emergency services in.

“We just want to make a difference to the most vulnerable group of people, which is the young.”

Mrs Reynolds said: “I strongly support the scheme.

“If this sort of service was about when Terry needed help, perhaps they could have helped him and talked to him.

“I think the scheme will put parents’ minds as ease as so many young people end up on their own late at night and they are very vulnerable.”