Bar staff are to be trained to spot potentially suicidal customers.

People working in pubs in 38 Horsham will be trained to approach drinkers displaying suicidal tendencies.

The pilot scheme is being run by the Horsham Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnership, which includes Horsham District Council and Pubwatch, alongside Horsham and Crawley Samaritans.

Pubs will also display posters and information cards which advise suicidal people to call the Samaritans.

Shirley Gardner, the director of Horsham and Crawley Samaritans, said: "There is a strong link between alcoholism and suicide as alcohol dependence is often associated with problems such as marriage break-up, loss of job and the severing of family ties.

"Excessive alcohol intake shortly before a suicide attempt is extremely common, especially amongst alcoholics, and is known to increase dangerous or high risk behaviour in the population generally."

The suicide rate in Horsham from 1998 to 2004 was lower than for the average across England and Wales.

In Horsham, 11.4 men and four women per 100,000 people killed themselves compared to a national rate of 18.1 men and 5.6 women.

Horsham district councillor Andrew Baldwin said: "If this helps save one life then it will be worthwhile.

"The idea is to identify them to help get them on the straight and narrow before it is too late."

Licensees and bar staff have mixed views about the scheme.

Daniel Havers, a barman at The Nelson in Trafalgar Road, said: "If you think something could happen and you could prevent it, then it has to be a good idea."

Matthew Deal, the assistant manager at The Bear in Market Square, said: "When we train for our licence these days we have to think about being a policeman and social worker rather then just running a pub.

"I'm not against the idea in any way but it just seems like an extra thing to put on the shoulders of licensees in general."

And Vicky Moore, landlady of The Crown in Carfax, said: "Will staff be qualified enough to make a judgement on such a thing?

"I wouldn't want to make a judgement on someone and I'm the house manager.

"But any extra training for staff has to be a positive thing."