A similar pilot scheme was run across two weekends in February and will now have a longer ten-month trial from October.

It aims to offer a night time haven for clubbers and pubgoers, either on a vehicle – perhaps a bus, as in a similar scheme in Norwich or in a building, to go if they need basic first aid, advice or help getting home.

The investment follows recent research commissioned by Norfolk Drug and Alcohol Action Team, which revealed that one in seven adults in the county is estimated to binge drink, at least 43 per cent of violent offences were reported as alcohol-related and around 13,000 children live in a household with at least one dependent drinker.

Lead commissioner for substance misuse for NHS Norfolk Jocelyn Pike said: "By identifying this funding NHS Norfolk has responded to the outcomes from local and national research and has shown a real commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of individuals affected by alcohol use in Norfolk."

A similar project to the scheme proposed for Lynn has been running in Norwich since 2001 – The Norwich SOS bus.

The Norwich scheme was launched following the alcohol-related deaths of three young people in the city after or during nights out and claims to have helped almost 5,000 people.

The Lynn scheme, representing a £30,000 investment, was announced by NHS Norfolk within a package of pilot projects to tackle alcohol abuse and particularly to reduce the number of people going into hospital, all of which are to be tested before a decision over whether to make them permanent.

Other measures included are £50,000 for a further level of night-time service to provide medical assessment and first aid, including stitching, either through the Lynn SOS-style scheme or elsewhere in the county and £111,000 to work with people admitted to hospital with alcohol-related problems and ensure they get the follow-up care they need.

Other funds will enable further rehabilitation work with offenders on probation for alcohol-related crime, promote sensible drinking and additional training for medical professionals.