A GROUP of volunteers will took to the streets of Redcar on Friday to help revellers and the homeless stay safe.

The Redcar Beacons, set up by locals Anne and Bryan Connelly are based on 'Street Angels' programmes running in other areas, including Middlesbrough, Stockton, Guisborough and Hartlepool.

The group is run under the umbrella of the Christian Nightlife Initiative, which supports more than 100 similar schemes across the country.

The Beacons wear high-visibility jackets and provide a caring and high-profile presence to everyone who ventures out in Redcar on a Friday night.

They help everyone from revellers to the vulnerable and even the homeless and can provide first aid for minor injuries, give out water for dehydration and flip-flops for sore feet. Volunteers also direct people to taxis, refer them on to other agencies who can offer professional support, or just provide a blanket and a listening ear.

Mrs Connelly, who is a retired social worker, said: "About half of us are Christians, but the one thing we all have in common is we care about our community.

"Our main aim is to get people enjoying a night out and making sure they stay safe. This could be by alerting the emergency services or by taking them back to our base at the Lifeline office and helping them seek further help from the appropriate organisation."

There are currently 16 volunteers aged between 19 and 70 who will go out each Friday night between 10pm and 3am, but the group is appealing for more volunteers to help them expand to Saturday nights as well. There are more men needed in particular.

The name Redcar Beacons is based on the town's "vertical pier", the Beacon.

Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner, Barry Coppinger, said: “In my experience of Street Angels projects, they are very well received and I’m sure this scheme will be a great addition to the community safety offer in Redcar.”

Police have praised the Street Angels schemes in the past, for helping to reduce the number of incidents officers deal with late at night and in the early hours of the morning.

For details, email info@redcarbeacons.co.uk or call 0771-9447112.