83-year-old street pastor patrols Sutton's streets (From Your Local Guardian)

83-year-old street pastor patrols Sutton's streets

8:50am Sunday 27th June 2010 in

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Football louts on Sutton High Street are being charmed into good behaviour by 83-year-old street pastor Shelia Brown.

Mrs Brown is the oldest of Sutton's 40 street pastors and was out on patrol during England's World Cup match against Algeria.

The pastors are volunteers drawn from churches across the borough. They undergo 12 weeks training and then give up their evenings and weekends to provide help and support on the streets.

The pastors hand out water and blankets where needed and will event provide flip flops to ladies who are struggling in their heels.

Mrs Brown said: “I find it very rewarding to provide support to people in need of help.”

One girl I helped was unwell at the end of a night out and we stayed with her until her bus arrived. But before she got on she threw her arms round me and said ‘I love you’”.

To find out more about street pastors email sutton@streetpastors.org.uk or visit www.suttonstreetpastors.org.