Patrols steer three high-risk revellers away from River Severn in Shrewsbury
Three people were saved from falling into the River Severn in Shrewsbury by a new volunteer patrol.
West Mercia Search and Rescue took to the streets of Shrewsbury over the bank holiday weekend.
The patrols come amid concerns about the safety of revellers taking to the town centre to drink at weekends.
There have also been a number of cases in which people had to be talked out of jumping from bridges.
Members of volunteer service carried out the first of series of regular patrols.
In two cases, the team was informed that a member of the public had expressed suicidal thoughts and was thought to have gone towards the river. Searches were organised and both were found safe and away from danger.
In a third incident, volunteers had to put themselves between the river and a reveller who wanted to enter the river, until police arrived.
West Mercia Search and Rescue chairman Andy MacAuley said: "Easter weekend patrols were a success.
"The rainy weather had an effect on numbers, and the town's night-time economy was a lot less busy than predicted. There were definitely fewer people wandering by the river under the influence of alcohol than at Christmas, which is good.
"However, we were involved in three incidents with high-risk people.
"In two cases, we found people who were thought to have gone towards the river.
Ambassador
"In a third incident, a team happened upon a member of the public who was trying to stop a stranger from entering the river. The team was able to help by putting themselves between the water and the person, and managed the situation until police could arrive to take them to safety.
"Aside from incidents, we were able to talk to a good few revellers who had braved the rain, and continued to push the Home & Dry message."
The service's newly appointed ambassador, Kirsty Walsh, whose husband, 29-year-old Shane Walsh died in the river in September last year, joined the patrols on Friday and Saturday.
She said she spoke to Shrewsbury's mayor Jane MacKenzie about the work she has been doing and passed on the safety message to groups drinking near the river.
She said: "The public were really really friendly and kept stopping and asking what we were doing. One person even gave me a high five because he recognised me from social media.One person from the under 18s night at The Buttermarket told me he'd done the online river safety course which is great as more than 1,000 people have now done it."
Mrs Walsh added that she hopes the patrols will continue over the busier summer periods and again at Christmas.
She said: "From my perspective, I'll do whatever I can to help."
Mr MacAuley added: "I'm pleased to say that we we will be at the Shrewsbury Kids, Food, River, Rocks and Oktoberfest festivals with our demonstrations, are we are working with the police, RNLI and RLSS to get the message in to local schools later in the year."
Members of the team from WMSAR will be at Shrewsbury's Tesco Extra store on Friday.
For more information visit westmerciasar.org.uk
