A SCHEME that has been helping to steer late-night revellers in Minehead away from trouble is about to celebrate its third anniversary.

When the Minehead Street Pastors was launched in 2011, it carried out its first patrol with a team of just 11 volunteers.

Now the initiative has 22 street pastors and a further 15 prayer pastors.

And only last month it received a ringing endorsement from Police and Crime Commissioner Sue Mountstevens and Avon and Somerset Chief Constable Nick Gargan during a visit to Minehead.

The volunteers offer reassurance, support, a listening ear, care, help and safety, working alongside the police and CCTV monitors in the town's streets from 10pm to 3am every Saturday.

Over the past year, they have given more than 800 volunteer hours, distributed 120 pair of flip-flops to sore-footed revellers, calmed 20 aggressive situations and helped or observed 32 people to safety.

They have also collected broken bottles and cans and swept up glass no less than 800 times.

They dealt with an incident involving an offensive weapon, which required police support and, in addition, prayed for the community on a regular basis.

The scheme's co-ordinator Barbara Tunningley said it was hard to believe it was approaching its third birthday.

"I am sure that many people were probably sceptical about how long this initiative would last, or indeed whether it would achieve anything worthwhile," she said.

"However, I am delighted to say that on both counts we are able to dismiss those fears."

But Mrs Tunningley said more help was needed as Minehead struggled with cuts in youth services, debt, hardship, housing and employment issues.

"Drink and drug problems are an issue at weekends," she said.

"We want to respond and be part of a solution. We can show Christian love by practically caring and being present in our community."

Mrs Tunningley said more volunteers were needed but also the money to train them.

"We need to keep our finances in good shape so that we can train volunteers to the high standard set by the Ascension Trust and get them out on our streets.

"This process costs us around £300 per volunteer. At the moment we are only able to cover Saturday nights but our prayer and vision is to be able to do Friday nights as well.

"However, without volunteers and funds we cannot realise this."

More information on ways to help the scheme is available at http://www.minehead.streetpastors.org.uk">www.minehead.streetpastors.org.uk or by contacting Mrs Tunningley on 07581523421, email minehead@ streetpastors.org.uk.