by Jenni Horn
jhorn@thekmgroup.co.uk

The SOS bus has been hailed a success by police after a quiet first night in service.
The bright orange bus, funded by the Medway Community Safety Partnership, was launched on Friday .
It was stationed on Blue Boar Lane in Rochester, between 9pm and 3am.
Its remit is to ensure people who are suffering from the effects of alcohol or drugs get home safely.
One man was treated for a severe headache and a woman was helped after cutting her foot.
Another woman was checked by Red Cross volunteers after she complained of chest pains.
SOS Bus co-ordinator Robin Wharfe said: “There was a lot of interest from licensees and residents who thought the bus was a good idea.
“We are there to support people who need help and ensure they have a safe night out. As people become more aware of what we can offer, I believe that we will have some great success stories to tell.
“Later in the evening, there were a couple of groups of males and females who had been on a night out and came on board the bus. They were very interested in what we were doing and we were able to re-hydrate them by giving them plenty of water. They left in good spirits and thanked us for giving them some water.”
Ch Supt Steve Corbishley, area commander for Kent Police in Medway, said: “The bus will make a real difference to Medway not only during the evenings, but also throughout the daytime. The bus will be used for community work and will be a great educational tool for all of the agencies.
“The first night of operation was successful and we will soon be dealing with many more people. The bus has the potential to save lives . I would also like to thank all of the volunteers who have helped make the project become a reality.”