Party goers heading out into Bath this Christmas are in safe hands.
The man in charge of looking after the district's health has said the city's night marshals are doing a good job.
Director of Public Health for Bath and North East Somerset, Dr Bruce Laurence, spent a night with the Bath Business Improvement District's (BID) night marshals last Friday to see firsthand how the scheme operated.
The night marshals, who help people who have drunk too much during a night out, were launched in Bath last summer as a joined initiative with the BID and B&NES Council.
The marshals man the Orange Grove taxi rank, provide medical assistance and make sure drunken behaviour does not get out of hand.
On a typical week the BID night marshals help around 2,000 people. It is estimated that between August 2012 and October this year the marshals prevented police being called to 581 incidents and ensured the ambulance service was spared 77 journeys.
Dr Bruce Laurence said the marshal scheme was a good investment.
"I was also particularly impressed by the way in which the marshals, whether walking around the city centre or managing the taxi ranks, work alongside many others, such as the Street Pastors, the police, the ambulance service, the doormen of our pubs and clubs and the CCTV controllers in the city.
"By coordinating all their efforts, these folk keep our nightlife well managed in a friendly and discrete way, so that punters can enjoy themselves safely in our wonderful city."
He added without the marshals many drunk people could have got themselves into serious trouble.
"Of course we know that drinking is often part of a good night out, but please stop short of oblivion, and ensure that you have a plan for getting home safely."
Mr Cooper said he believed Bath was a safer destination because of the work done by the marshals.
"It is really important that a night in Bath offers a good experience and people want to return and enjoy the city again and again which is why we have invested in assisting those businesses that rely on the night time economy."
The night marshals are out every Friday and Saturday night throughout the year. Over Christmas the marshals are also out on patrol on Thursday nights as well as Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve.
