PUBS and bars across Wrexham have backed a scheme aiming to reduce sexual violence.

'Ask for Angela' is a campaign encourages people to discreetly ask for help if they feel unsafe on a date.

The initiative aims to reduce sexual violence and vulnerability by providing customers with a discreet way to gain assistance from staff in order to get help when they feel unsafe due to a person’s actions, words or behaviour.

A Wrexham Council spokesman said: "If you are feeling vulnerable all you have to do is approach the bar and ask for Angela, the staff are then alerted to the situation and can help.

"Once alerted, staff can then offer to call a taxi, contact their friends or family or ensure that the individual causing the distress leaves the venue."

Wrexham town centre inspector Paul Wycherley said: “This is a simple yet effective scheme which empowers members of the public to seek help if they are feeling vulnerable, by allowing them to raise concerns with staff.

"It may be that they are in the company of someone who is not what they seemed and they want to get away safely and with minimum fuss.

"This initiative will facilitate this and hopefully prevent situations from escalating into something more serious. Of course, where scenarios do develop we know bar staff will contact police to attend the scene."

Alex Jones, manager of The Bank in High Street who also chairs Wrexham Town Centre Forum, told the Leader: "We had a Nightsafe meeting and the majority of pubs were in attendance.

"We fully support it and I believe most places have now put up the posters and literature up.

"Everyone from DJs to security staff are aware of the scheme."

Available at participating venues across Wrexham, members of the public are encouraged to look out for the ‘Ask for Angela’ posters.