'GUARDIAN angels' who watch over trouble spots in the borough have received £500 from the Church of England but are in need of more cash.

Ealing's Street Pastors, whose members are made up from congregations around the borough, patrol the areas around Ealing Broadway and Acton and Southall high streets.

The much-needed cash was donated to the multi-denominational Christian charity by the C of E.

Pastors work on Friday nights tackling anti-social behaviour and providing a reassuring presence. The group have grown from just five when they started in March 2009, to 26 this month.

Coordinator Lehoma Tannis-Harriet, said: “We patrol hotspot areas around the pubs and clubs and the high streets helping to resolve arguments, picking up broken bottles which could be used as weapons and do a lot of signposting. We check out services and build links with them so we can help people in need, whether they need help with housing, debt or a counsellor.

“It's been going well, a report by the police a year after we began showed we cut crime and the fear of crime by about 50 per cent at the time we patrol.”

The £500 from the C of E will go towards a laptop so paperwork, such as reports for the police and rotas, can be drawn up more easily.

Andrew Corsie, assistant archdeacon for north west London, who handed over the money on Monday, said: “They do very good work late at night and we were aware they needed the new computer. Safer streets are good for everyone in Ealing.”

But funding is a constant worry for the charity.

Ms Tannis-Harriet added: “It costs £300 to train and equip one street pastor and one of our biggest needs is funding.”

Anyone who can help support the street pastors' work or those wishing to find out more should email Ms Tannis-Harriet at ealing@streetpastors.org.uk