GLOBAL history will be made next month when a team of street pastors step out from a Hampshire village church.

They will be acting as "guardian angels" to the residents of Fair Oak and Horton Heath as they leave pubs, clubs and youth centres on Friday nights.

Under the banner of the Ascension Trust, the Street Pastor schemes have been rolled out in other parts of the country, including Portsmouth.

Until now the scheme has targeted inner city areas.

St Thomas Church, Fair Oak, is the driving force behind bringing the initiative to the village, which has won the backing of police and parish council.

"Fair Oak and Horton Heath will have the first rural pastors in the world," says Sheena Graham, who along with Peter Broom, is the Street Pastors co-ordinator.

Street pastor schemes have been introduced in London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Leicester, Southend and Wrexham, with other cities set to get involved.

There will be an hour-long commissioning service at St Thomas Church on February 8 at 7.30pm.

From February 15, four street pastors will be out and about every Friday from 8pm until midnight.

Nineteen street pastors have so far been recruited following an intensive training programme. They will be easily recognisable thanks to their distinctive blue uniforms.

They are aged from their early 30s to their mid-60s and come from all walks of life. Among them are company directors, a retired community nurse, systems analyst and a social worker.

As well as acting as chaperones, they will provide a listening ear for anyone who might have a problem.

Sheena said: "Each street pastor will have contact details of various organisations and will be able to point people in the right direction.

"The street pastor is there to get to know people in the community and to build relationships with them to find out their needs and what can be done to help them.

"It's not about preaching heaven and hell but about caring and helping.

"We hear a lot about gangs in the media, but three of the biggest gangs in any area are the Church, local government and the police. They have the power, the influence and the resources to make a difference."

Danny Stupple, who is a member of St Thomas Church, has played a major role in getting the initiative off the ground in Fair Oak and Horton Heath.

Danny said: "Fair Oak and Horton Heath is not a rough place. It is a lovely place to live, and we want to make it even better."

A police spokesman said: "We are grateful to the members of the community who have volunteered to take part in this initiative. The Safer Neighbourhood Team, made up of police officers and PCOs, will be backing the work of Street Pastors."