Telford Street Pastors praise quick action as firefighters save 'priceless van'

The 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.

The drama happened at 2.50am on a Sunday morning two weeks ago when the team was giving first aid to a man from the renovated former police van parked outside Pussycats night club in Wellington.

Volunteer Ralph Mepham spotted flames coming from the engine and ordered a hasty evacuation.

The van was repaired at a cost of just under £400, but would have been a write-off had the firefighters not attended promptly.

A second people carrier was used by the pastors while the other vehicle was off the road.

Mr Osmund-Smith, said: "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 revellers 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.

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."