Other News In Brief

Police Appeal For Man In Breach Of Bail Conditions

Essex Police are appealing for information about a man suspected of raping a woman in Waltham Abbey in December last year.

The man was arrested in connection with the offence and released on conditional police bail but has failed to report back and is in breach of his bail conditions.

Police believe the man was using a false identity at the time of his arrest. He gave the name Michael Ifayin, and said that he was 47 years old.

Investigating officer, Detective Inspector Terry Balding, said: "The suspect had been working as a carer and has been known to frequent the London area but he could be anywhere in the country.

"We have now established that the credentials he gave to secure his previous employment were false and he could now be using another assumed name."

Witness Appeal Following Attempted Armed Robbery In Merseyside

Merseyside Police are appealing for witnesses following an attempted armed robbery at an off-licence in Litherland on Sunday 17 May.

Officers were called to Bargain Booze on Ennerdale Drive, at around 8.40pm, by a member of staff reporting that three males had entered the store, one of whom was armed with a hammer.

One of the offenders then used the hammer to smash the security window and threaten staff before all of them ran off empty-handed.

No-one was injured during the incident howvever the people working at the store were left extremely upset and distressed.

A search of the area was carried out and CCTV opportunities are now being assessed.

Police are appealing to anyone with information to contact them.

Work Begins To Extend Wick Nature Reserve

The Environment Agency is starting construction work on a major extension to Essex Wildlife Trust's Fingringhoe Wick Nature Reserve, on the Colne estuary.

The estuary has national and international designations due to its conservation importance and has recently been included in the Marine Conservation Zone designation.

Coastal habitats that make it special include tidal mudflats, saltmarshes and coastal grazing marsh in Essex. Around 80% of the coastal marshes have been lost and the remaining are disappearing at an alarming rate.

The project, which is a partnership between the Trust and the Agency, will see 22 hectares of new intertidal habitat created by breaching the existing seawall – allowing the tide to enter the site. The habitat will be a mix of saltmarsh, mudflat and saline lagoon, with a further 1.5 hectares of new reedbed.

As soon as planning permission was granted in 2013, the Trust's supporters raised over £125,000 to buy the land for the project. A number of key funders and donors also supported the acquisition.

(CD/JP)