A TEAM of Christian soldiers will be hitting the streets of Witney to help keep late night revellers safe.

It is hoped that by handing out sweets to drunks, flip-flops to women unable to walk in high heels, and offering a cup of tea, as well as a listening ear, the Witney Street Pastors will keep the town trouble-free.

Churches in the town are now mobilising an army of Christians to launch the project, which will follow in the footsteps of similar schemes in Wantage and Oxford.

Captain Jeff Hill, team evangelist from the Witney parish, said it was a way of reaching out to the community and understanding people’s worries.

He said: “We hope to take the teams out late at night to show concern for people. We will listen and talk to anybody out in Witney at night time.

“We will be handing out toffees to help make a bridge to people.

“There will be flip flops on hand for girls who may be walking around without any protection on their feet, to keep them safe from bits of broken glass.

“We will also be in direct contact with the community policing team, should anyone have any issues they wish to be passed on.”

Mr Hill will be enlisting the help of 20 volunteers, who will each be sent on 15 weeks of training before hitting the streets.

Ron Spurs, community safety officer for West Oxfordshire District Council, said the council had contributed £2,000. He said: “It is not a lot when you think about the returns.

“Witney is not a bad place to be out and about at night, but like any market town there is a small section of the community who may have had too much to drink, and can get into confrontation with either the police or other people.

“The Street Pastors will provide a shoulder to lean on and hopefully help defuse any situations, by lending an ear, handing over a cup of tea, or sorting out a taxi home.”

awilliams@oxfordmail.co.uk