Telford Street Pastors thank firefighters who saved “precious” van

Rev Keith Osmund-Smith drove the newly repaired vehicle to Wellington Fire Station to personally thank the firefighting team from Green Watch which arrived within two minutes of a 999 call.

“I arrived expecting to see a smouldering wreck of a vehicle but the firefighters put the flames out so quickly. The response time from call to arrival was amazing and the swift efficiency with which they extinguished the blaze was almost miraculous.

“They saved our precious 13-year-old vehicle which was kindly donated to us by the police crime commissioner.

“I was astonished to find no external damage with all the destruction confirmed to the battery and wiring which was all repairable.”

Street pastors, who are church volunteers, turn out on Friday and Saturday nights to help vulnerable night clubbers walking home often under the influence of drink and drugs in the early hours.

They provide young women with flip flops to replace high heels, space blankets to keep them warm and give first aid where needed. Accident and emergency figures at the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford have reduced since the Street Pastors were set up and police arrests are also reportedly down.

At 2.50am on a Sunday morning two weeks ago the team was giving first aid to a man from their renovated former police van parked outside Pussycats night club in Wellington when volunteer Ralph Mepham spotted flames coming from the engine.

The van, critical for the street pastors, was repaired at a cost of just under £400. A second people carrier was used by the pastors while the other vehicle was off the road.

Watch Manager Darren Salvoni said: “Our fire station is about half a mile from the night club so we were quick on the scene and glad that our actions helped save their van. They do such a worthwhile job in Shropshire.”

Telford Street Pastors urgently need more volunteers and anyone interested should contact Rev Osmund-Smith on 07891 603644.