IT has its own first aid treatment room, a heated seating area and even has facilities to make tea and toast.

Southampton’s new nighttime emergency bus has taken to the streets for the first time to offer a safe haven to revellers over the festive period.

The In Case of Emergency – ICE – bus has been launched to help reduce booze-fuelled violence and ease pressure on police, ambulance and accident and emergency department crews over busy weekends.

Situated next to the Cenotaph in Above Bar Street, the brightly coloured bus is aimed at providing a safe haven for anyone who is injured, ill, or in need of help during a night on the town.

As well as ambulance staff on board to treat minor injuries, it will also provide vulnerable revellers with advice and support from trained volunteers and Street Pastor teams during the busiest weekends of the year.

Its introduction comes after the Daily Echo highlighted the impact of alcohol in the city centre and the new schemes by police, the city council and the Safer City Partnership on dealing with the problems.

Last year a pilot scheme ran near the Guildhall over several nights during the festive and new year period and resulted in a 21 per cent drop in alcohol related incidents.

Deputy leader of the council, Councillor Royston Smith, said: “We know that alcohol can make people vulnerable, and open to risk. This is all about looking after those people to make sure they are safe.

“This is not just an invitation for people to come out and get drunk because we will look after them, but it is a way for us to deal with some of the problems which can come with a thriving night time economy.”

Alex Grossart, operational manager for South Central Ambulance Service NHS Trust said their qualified emergency care practitioners will be on the bus,which will act as a similar role as a walk-in centre.

He added: “Of course where a patient does require an ambulance to go to hospital this will be arranged.”

The ICE bus, funded by £80,000 of Home Office money, was out for the first time last night and will be back on the street from 9pm tonight.