TAXI marshals will help late night revellers get home safely as part of a Christmas crime prevention drive.

They will be on hand at the junction of Holme Street and Church Street in Accrington between 11pm and 4am on Friday and Saturday nights.

The scheme is the first of its kind in the borough and has been funded by Hyndburn Community Safety Partnership.

The marshals will also stop private hire taxis breaching their licence by touting for business on the streets.

Any drivers picking up passengers illegally face losing their licence.

PC Rob Flanagan said: “The taxi marshals will be easily identifiable offering reassurance to people who want to get home safely after a night out.

“Some private hire drivers will try and take customers illegally without a booking and people need to know that they will not be insured for that journey.”

Coun Brian Roberts, chairman of the community partnership, said: “The taxi marshalling scheme is part of the activities which the partnership will be carrying out to keep people safe over Christmas and New Year.

Additional police officers will be on patrol until the early hours of the morning and a sanctuary bus, staffed by a police officer and members of St John Ambulance, will be available to anyone who needs first aid.”