FEARS that Saturday would be the year’s booziest and most crime riddled night were unfounded, say police.

Although there were a number of incidents, Inspector Madeleine Lynch said there was no widespread trouble.

She said: “It was pretty much a normal Saturday night out.”

Richard Palusinski, head of community safety for the Swindon Community Safety Partnership, said 10 people attended the street safety bus on Friday and Saturday night, lower than the expected figure.

The bus, a stripped-out double decker, is kitted out with coffee bar, kitchen, examination couch, first-aid facilities and a defibrillator, and is staffed by paramedics, called ECPs, who are trained to assess, treat and discharge patients.

Mr Palusinski said: “Considering that some people in the national press were calling it black Saturday, it was relatively calm in the town centre.

“I am not sure why the numbers were so average but they were.

“Whether the message we are putting out there is being heeded by revellers, or whether it is the current financial drought that is resulting in people drinking less, I am not sure.

“My team and I will be analysing a number of crime statistics, including time, location and crime type, to try and figure out which one it is more likely to be – or whether it is both.”

He added that the bus was often essential in relieving the crush at Great Western Hospital’s A&E department.

Richard said that although one person had to be taken to GWH, owing to excessive drink, all the rest were casualties either for minor injury or emotional reasons.

He said: “It was largely your usual mix of someone slipping on the dance floor or someone needing support over relationship issues.

“I consider the operation a success.”

The bus, which also tours neighbourhoods throughout the year to advise people on a wide range of issues, will be out again on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Eve.