A TEAM of street rangers established to improve a town centre yesterday went out on patrol for the first time.

The new team has been set up as part of a Business Improvement District (BID) set up in Bury St Edmunds called Bid4Bury.

Those behind the ranger scheme say the unit will “become a regular face on the streets of Bury” and will “act both as ambassadors for the town centre to advise and assist visitors and locals alike to the town”.

The three rangers, who have been trained in Ipswich as part of a deal struck with the Ipswich BID, will also provide extra security for businesses in the town. The rangers, who will don purple and black uniforms, will be working closely with both the police’s town centre safer neighbourhood team and officers from St Edmundsbury Borough Council.

Bury’s town centre manager Steve Peters said: “We are delighted to bring this scheme to the town centre, which is a further development from the old ‘town wardens’ that used to patrol within the town until 2006, and which businesses told us they missed, during our consultations for the BID.

“Our colleagues in Ipswich have several years of experience, and their scheme offers the best value for money for us, together with the experience of a successful project.

“We very much welcome the rangers to the town as part of a growing private sector partnership and at the start of a project which we very much hope will grow and expand as time progresses.”

Alongside a number of other security schemes being launched in the town, it is hoped the rangers will help reduce shoplifting, litter and anti-social behaviour.

Paul Haynes, the interim chairman of Bid4Bury, said: “The culmination of these three projects will give Bury town centre one of the most up-to-date and comprehensive security packages available to businesses throughout the country, and will ensure the already safe and friendly environment of the town centre is enhanced.”