Dressed in bright pink high-vis, armed with phone chargers and a listening ear - a group of volunteers are working to help women stay safe in Teesside.
Women's Street Watch (WSW) Middlesbrough patrols the town centre, offering practical help and support to people who are vulnerable on a night out.
The organisation was founded in 2021 after local woman Bethany McLean was inspired to bring the initiative to Teesside following a scary experience as a student.
Bethany said: "When I was at university, I was spiked in my first year.
"It was horrible. It was a four-hour gap where I had no idea what happened."
"Someone said earlier this year that women getting home safe should be a right, not a privilege and that has really stuck with me."
She added that she was all too familiar with unwanted comments, sexual harassment and the challenges many women face on nights out.
WSW Middlesbrough volunteers.
(Image: Women's Street Watch Middlesbrough)
Patrolling Middlesbrough town centre, volunteers provide practical support to women on nights out while acting as a visible deterrent to potential offenders.
They also offer a helping hand to those struggling in high heels or other uncomfortable footwear.
"We hand out on average 30 pairs of flip-flops a night. That's 30 people we've hopefully prevented an injury for," Bethany said.
"From a violence against women and girls perspective, it's also easier to speed walk or run in flip-flops than it is in heels."
Volunteers carry phone chargers to help people contact a taxi, friend or family member, ensuring they can get home safely at the end of the night.
WSW patrols are given training before heading out onto the streets, including sessions delivered by violence against women and girls consultants, local charities and St John Ambulance.
Many also bring experience from careers in housing, education, the NHS, community safety and domestic abuse services.
The group works closely with local pubs, the Safe Haven service and Middlesbrough's CCTV control room to share information about potential risks and spread the word throughout the community.
Bethany says the need for the service has become increasingly apparent over the years.
"We always have feedback when we are patrolling about how appreciated we are and people telling us stories about when we've helped them in the past," she said.
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Bethany recalled one encounter where a woman approached her during a patrol and recalled how volunteers had previously stayed with her while she ordered a taxi after a night out.
"She openly said that she had had a lot to drink and that she was vulnerable," she said.
"She thanked us for waiting with her that night as her abusive ex-partner was out and was worried if he had seen her on her own, the night may have ended differently."
WSW Middlesbrough now has around 40 volunteers, although organisers say there is always room for more.
Organisers hope to shine a light on the work carried out by volunteers every weekend, so more people know where to turn for help if they need it during a night out.