He met Robin Hardy, scheme chairman and member Tony Hodge.

"This really is an excellent initiative," said Mr Spring. " It is important that people feel safe when they are going home after a night out in town. I want to show my support and encouragement for the Newmarket Town Pastors."

John Borda, chairman of Newmarket and District Churches Together, which is behind the initiative, said pastors had generally been received very well by late night revellers.

"The clubbers are quite appreciative that we are there," he said. "We can talk to people which very often means that situations do not escalate and this is very helpful to the police. It is really about talking to people. By letting them vent their frustration we can diffuse a potentially difficult situation."

The pastors also offer prcatical help. A recent foam part at Innocence nightclub resulted in wet clubbers finding themselves on the High Street and cold at 3am.

"We went through our entire stock of foil blankets that evening," said Mr Borda.