PRIVATE security guards have been praised by the police for helping to keep the streets safe.

A Class Security, which provides doormen and guards across Brighton and Hove, have been first responders to a driver who ploughed into a parked car, as well as plucking a knife from an attacker's hand and restraining him - all in the space of a week.

The company's senior operations manager Doug Fogarty and managing director Andy Wigzell were driving along Madeira Drive last week when a car smashed into parked vehicles on December 13.

The pair gave life-saving CPR to the man, who had vomited on impact and was slumped over the passenger seat, until paramedics and police arrived.

Days earlier, Mr Wigzell and a colleague were driving from a job at a club in Ship Street when they spotted a man wielding a knife.

They managed to pacify the situation by taking the blade from the man and restraining him until police arrived, on December 5.

Mr Wigzell said: "The bloke was out with his girlfriend and he gets a knife waved in his face - we had to help.

"It's just part of the job. Your instincts kick in and your training and you just react."

Mr Fogarty, who has aspirations of joining the force to follow in his family's footsteps, said: "The police can't be everywhere first given the cuts.

"They do an extraordinary job with what resources they have, but if we can help out any little way, we will."

Chief Inspector Gareth Davies, of the Safe In The City and Neighbourhood Policing teams, described the group's contribution as vital.

He said: "Brighton and Hove Police have developed strong working relationships with the businesses, door staff and security companies associated with the night time economy over the years.

"These relationships continue to build and we recognise that this collaboration is vital in dealing with the challenges that can be presented on busy nights in Brighton & Hove

"There have been and continue to be, fantastic examples of door staff and security personnel looking after vulnerable people and also detaining suspects for serious offences.

"Coordinated through the work of the Business Crime Reduction Partnership (BCRP) this joint approach and responsibility continues to develop strong working relationships.

"We are always grateful for the assistance we receive from the work of the BCRP, door staff and all those associated with managing the night time economy."