Street pastors in good Company

By hfinch hannah finch hfinch@heraldexpress.co.uk

GUARDIAN angels who patrol Torbay's club land have come out top in Company Magazine's Get Home Safely Awards.

Torbay Street Pastors is the winner in the national campaign to make Saturday nights out safer.

Delighted coordinator Ros Ede said: "This is really the age group that we help the most so it is really special to be recognised by them in such a high profile magazine.

Volunteer street pastor Zoe Yates, 31, nominated the scheme.

The Torbay Hospital radiology support worker said that she sometimes shocked at the vulnerability of some clubbers on a Saturday night.

"Sometimes we have quiet nights but there are other times when you intervene when a stranger tries to get into a cab with a woman and you know you have made the difference.

"It is amazing to part of a team that is out there looking out for people's best interests."

Cosmopolitan was impressed when the street pastors came to the aid of a 22-year-old who was being followed when she decided to save the taxi fare and instead walk home.

She was assisted by four street pastors who asked if she was OK, sending the stranger on his way.

Ros said: "Stories like these are quite common. We accompany women home or to a taxi and we take holiday makers to their hotel.

"We have had girls being stalked and they have approached us and we have managed to get them home safely.

"When we see them getting into a taxi and getting home safely, we know we have done our job."

The street pastors patrol busy nightspots between 10pm and 4am on Friday and Saturdays.

It has been running for less than two years and already has 66 volunteers.

Trainee Street Pastors from all over he country are sent to Torbay to learn from the scheme.