THE owners of Ali Baba’s takeaway in Tiverton have more than one reason to celebrate this month.

The takeaway, on West Exe, is celebrating 25 years as a business in the town, and though the owners are new they are sponsoring the Street Pastors who themselves are celebrating four years’ service to Tiverton.

Ali Baba’s is donating 15% from every burger sold from tomorrow (March 29) to Saturday, April 5, to the pastors and the company is becoming its local sponsor.

The pastors are seen as a vital link in the town on evenings, helping to keep things ticking over in a number of ways, from helping vulnerable people to keeping the streets clean.

Pastors go out in teams of four to support and assist in the night economy of Tiverton every Saturday and the first Friday of the month.

The teams are volunteers from local churches in and around Tiverton and as far out as Black Dog.

The team carries a bag of bits and pieces such as flip flops, bottles of water, spikeys, hair clips, plasters, woolly hats, cigarette lighters and pastors have a two-way radio keeping them in touch with door staff and, if needed, the police.

They also have a dedicated mobile phone 07977-062330.

Supporting the team on the street is a team of three or four prayer pastors back at the base who the team keeps in regular contact with by phone.

The prayers also listen in to the two-way radio so that they can pray for events as they happen.

The sort of things pastors do are as diverse as rescuing an exhausted racing pigeon to calling an ambulance for a person who has collapsed in a dark street corner, as well as escorting vulnerable people to safety, listening to people and helping people of all ages to enjoy themselves safely in the town.