A VITAL service which provides a safe haven for people who get into difficulties on a night out has been given a new home in the nick of time.

The Southend YMCA’s SOS Bus visits the town centre at weekends to help vulnerable people and rescue clubbers from potentially dangerous situations, but its current vehicle is coming to the end of its life.

The 28-year-old bus, which has more than 200,000 miles on the clock, will now be replaced with a double-decker donated by bus company Arriva.

The charity, which featured on Channel 4’s Undercover Boss, has also launched a £70,000 fundraising appeal so it can be kitted out with the equipment needed to cater for a variety of emergencies.

John Bastin, SOS Bus project manager, said: “Arriva have given us one of their doubledecker buses from Colchester to replace our old one which is coming to the end of its life.

“It will cost us £70,000 to convert and kit it out. We have to put in a generator and have seating areas and a first-aid area and we need to put in all the electrics.

“The Arriva area manager saw us on Undercover Boss and got in touch to ask us if we’d like another bus. They gave it to us for free. It’s 16 years old so it has a lot more life in it yet. We’re very grateful to Arriva.”

The SOS Bus project was first launched in 2006 and is positioned in the town centre high street by McDonald’s and Marks &Spencer between 9pm and 4am Friday and Saturday nights.

The bus is manned by a team of voluntary first aiders, youth and voluntary workers with a selection of alcohol, drug and solvent abuse advisers.

The volunteers give basic first aid, counselling and provide people with a safe environment until assistance is arranged, as well as providing literature giving advice on alcohol and drug education/intervention support services.

In 2011, Southend YMCA launched the Basildon SOS Bus, based at Festival Leisure Park near Liquid and Envy nightclubs.

The team have a radio connecting them to the Town Link Radio System co-ordinated from the Towns CCTV control centre.

They also have a mobile phone to contact parents, relatives, friends of vulnerable people and or support services.