A sanctuary for drunken revellers who have got into difficulty on their night out has turned 10-years-old.

In 2009 former Premier League referee Paul Alcock converted a disused double decker into a shelter to provide medical help and advice for people on a night out in Maidstone.

To celebrate turning 10, the charity has named its new bus in memory of its founder, after his death last year.

Having since abandoned its double decker, the Urban Blue Bus team uses a single decker, kitted out with places for stretchers and a large tent at the side for dealing intoxicated patients.

Mr Alcock's name has now been immortalised on the front of the bus.

Val Jacobs, who now runs the charity, said: "It is fitting the bus should be named after its founder, the much missed Paul Alcock who was still involved with the running of the charity until he sadly passed away."

At the time Mr Alcock started the Urban Blue Bus, he was manager of the Chequers Shopping Centre in Maidstone, now The Mall.

He intended for the bus to be a new port of call for revellers feeling the effects of a night out, to ease pressure on paramedics and police.

On Saturday volunteers from Urban Blue Bus celebrated the 10th anniversary with a cake, cut by longest serving member Jon Baker, who has been with the charity since the start.

The charity, which works with the likes of Maidstone Street Pastors, Kent Police, OneMaidstone and MaidSafe, is still in need of volunteers to keep running.

Mrs Jacobs said: "The volunteers are the cornerstone of the charity and donate in the region of 2,400 hours every year to help others in need.

"To join you don't need any first aid qualifications, just a good sense of humour."

Every Saturday night the bus has a team of at least eight volunteers ready to help the entire night-time economy of the County Town.

Mrs Jacobs added: "We appreciate the support from our night-time economy partners and cannot function without their help. We are now looking to the next 10 years helping to take the pressure off police cells and A and E departments with our incredible facility”.

To find out more about volunteering, email urbanbluebus@gmail.com.

See what else is going on around Maidstone here.