The staff, dressed in two-tone blue uniforms bearing the Safer Chesterfield logo, will patrol the town centre.

Cllr Mark Higginbottom, deputy leader of Chesterfield Borough Council, said: "We are delighted to introduce the first of our Safer Chesterfield teams.

"The wardens will serve a number of roles but most importantly they will provide a point of contact for everyone in the town centre and Queen's Park areas.

"We are confident that they will help reassure people and in return we hope people will welcome and support them."

They will be in radio contact with the CCTV control room, so can report incidents requiring immediate attention.

They will be available to talk to members of the public and so will become aware of any issues of concern, which can be passed on to the organisations and individuals that can deal with them.

The wardens are part of a team that includes police officers and community support officers, as well as representatives from other public sector organisations.

Two further Safer Chesterfield teams will be launched in Grangewood and Inkersall/ Middlecroft at the end of the year and eventually the whole borough will be covered.