A BRIGHT yellow bus is to provide a lifeline to people in a distressed or vulnerable position on a night out in Blackburn or Darwen.

The Safe Haven bus will be run by volunteers and will provide a refuge to revellers who become lost or separated from their friends.

The scheme has cost around £10,000 to set up and has been paid for by a grant from the Home Office's Safer Stronger Communities Fund.

The double decker was bought from Blackburn Transport for a peppercorn amount of £1, and will have seating and a treatment table where first aid can be administered.

Drunken or distressed people will be able to stay on the bus until helpers can arrange for the person to be re-united with friends, collected or taken home in a taxi.

The scheme is the first of its type in the North West and follows a similar project in Norwich, launched in 2001 after the tragic alcohol-related death of three teenagers who had been out clubbing.

Chiefs from the Community Safety Partnership, made up of Blackburn with Darwen Council and the police, said they hoped it would reduce the number of people who became victims of crime.

The service should also free up police and ambulance crews at peak hours to deal with more serious incidents.

The service will start in mid December for a 12-month trial and will be available from 9.30pm to 2am on Fridays and Saturdays.

The bus will probably be stationed outside the magistrates court, Northgate, Blackburn, for the first three weeks although that is yet to be confirmed.

Next year, the bus will be based in Darwen town centre on Fridays and Blackburn on Saturdays.

It was stressed the service will not provide a free ride home and taxis will not be paid for but it will be there for people with a genuine need.

Bosses have appealed for volunteers to come forward and also asked businesses to pledge support.

Coun Andy Kay, chairman of the Community Safety Partnership, said: "The aim of the Safe Haven Project is to establish a first point-of-contact to anyone who finds themselves in difficulty in Blackburn and Darwen town centres on Friday and Saturday nights.

"The bright yellow double-decker bus is easily identifiable and will be staffed by fully trained volunteers, working with the police and the council."

Detective Chief Inspector, Simon Giles, added: "It is the first project of its kind in the North West of England and is expected to make an improvement to the town centre."

The bus can also be moved around to provide help at festivals such as Arts in the Park.

To volunteer or offer sponsorship call 01254 585609 or 353576.

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