People enjoying a night out in Weston-super-Mare now have a safe place to go every Saturday night if they need any sort of help.

Mavis (multi-agency vehicle in service) provides a hub for police, ambulance, street wardens, street pastors, licensing and other local agencies, enabling them to offer immediate assistance to ensure people enjoy a safe night out.

Thanks to volunteers from St John Ambulance the distinctive purple bus can now be found parked in Princess Royal Square every Saturday from 9pm to 3am. Previously the bus had only been used at times of high demand such as pay day weekends and big events.

“It’s all about working together for a safer Weston,” said St John Ambulance’s volunteer area manager Damien Macdonald. “Everyone wants to have a good time at the weekend, but high spirits can sometimes lead to accidents or illness and that’s where we come in.

“With our first aiders close to the action ready to take care of people who are sick, injured or worse for wear, we’re making sure that, should anyone’s night out come to an abrupt end for any reason, they’ll be in safe hands.”

Mavis has a separate private medical area at the back of the bus for paramedics and trained first aiders to carry out their work, helping to divert people away from the hospital’s A&E department.

The bus is also linked by radio to licensed premises, the police and CCTV so staff on-board can monitor what’s going on in the town centre and respond to any calls for help.

“Mavis provides an unrivalled operation which joins our partners together to provide a safe and friendly service,” said Sergeant Mark Jenkinson, from Avon and Somerset Police.

“It is somewhere people can go to seek help, advice or even pop in just for a chat. Weston’s night life is fun, vibrant and safe. Mavis is part of that life and is something we, and our partners, fully support.”