On Friday and Saturday nights around the country, young people pour out of pubs and clubs onto the streets of towns and cities.

Most are good-natured. But with an ever-growing problem of binge drinking, there are increasing scenes of alcohol and drug-fuelled fights, other anti-social behaviour and young people staggering around disorientated, distressed, ill or falling helplessly on pavements.

Haverfordwest's town centre may not be as bad as some city hotspots, but it has its problems. Police maintain a watchful eye on proceedings, but while their brief is to anticipate trouble and handle flashpoints, there will soon be another presence on the streets.

Weekend revellers will spot men and women in a different type of uniform - special jackets and baseball caps bearing the message Street Pastors. These are Christian men and women who are willing to go out into the community and act as 'Good Samaritans'. They will make themselves available to listen, care, support and help people - especially young people - to feel safe in their own neighbourhoods and night-time venues. They will be on patrol on Saturday nights in Haverfordwest's Castle Square, Bridge Street and Quay Street.

The Street Pastors was launched in Haverfordwest on Saturday, and became the 100th Street Pastor project in Britain.

This initiative has its roots in a visit to Pembrokeshire in May 2008 by the pioneer of the Street Pastors, the Rev. Les Isaac, director of the Ascension Trust. Meeting representatives of the police, county council and churches, he explained the aims behind his brainchild, and the remarkable results which have been achieved in other areas where such teams are working.

A management committee was put together to discuss policies and procedures. And now, as the Street Pastors prepare to patrol Haverfordwest, they have the support not only of the churches, but also of Dyfed-Powys Police, Pembrokeshire County Council, statutory agencies, including drug and alcohol awareness groups, the Mayor and members of Haverfordwest Town Council, the High Sheriff Mrs. C. M. Mansel-Lewis, local MP Stephen Crabb and AM Paul Davies.

Heading the Haverfordwest team is Oliver Harries. As a Pembrokeshire paramedic, he has had first-hand experience of the fall-out from Friday and Saturday night fever.

He has seen the bad behaviour, the injuries, the fear and the misery among young people, some hardly out of their early teens.

"While all members are Christian, we have a non-preaching role," explained retired solicitor Paul Settatree, a volunteer Street Pastor. who during his career also saw the results from another perspective, in courts. "It's good to move Christians out of their own comfort zones and enable them to see what is happening within their own communities."

And Oliver added: "We don't want to be seen as party poopers. We are there to care, to help, to listen. We will really have a 'Good Samaritan' role."

Twenty-two volunteers have come forward for training as Street Pastors and they have been divided into four groups.

In the knowledge that they may face violence, intimidation and verbal aggression, they have had training in conflict management and also in basic first aid. But while Street Pastors will work closely with the police, they are not there to take over their role or that of the ambulance service.

"We are there in the background as a support," said Oliver. "For example, in the aftermath of a fight, after the police and ambulance have gone, there might be traumatised people who need some basic first aid, like a plaster, or we might see them into a taxi to make sure they get home safely. We are there to give out flip flops to a girl who may have lost or broken her shoes, safety pins for torn clothes, bottles of water, leaflets on how to get help for alcohol and drug abuse, or just be there to offer a listening ear or mop up the tears of a girl who has broken up with her boyfriend. Each Street Patrol team will have at least one woman on it, because so many more girls are becoming involved in the club scene and binge drinking."

Most of the volunteer Street Pastors come from churches within a few miles of Haverfordwest. But Oliver, who has also been a paramedic in Tenby - one of the country's top spots for parties and New Year's Eve celebrations - hopes that the initiative will eventually spread to other towns in the county - Tenby, Milford Haven, and Fishguard.

Anyone interested in becoming a Street Pastor can contact Oliver on 01437 764798.