POLICE have appealed for witnesses after a man was charged with attempted rape in the grounds of a Southend church.

The incident was reported to Essex Police on Thursday evening after an incident in All Saints Church, Sutton Road, Southend.

A witness contacted the police from a nearby telephone kiosk at 9.15pm but had left the scene before emergency services arrived.

Police are now appealing for the man to get in touch with them so he can provide potentially “vital information” needed for the the force to investigate the incident further.

Detective chief inspector Nicholas Hampson said: “We’d like to thank the member of public who called us to alert us to this incident.

“However, he left the location before officers arrived, so we don’t have all his details.

“We’d ask him to please contact us as he may have vital information that could help our enquiries.”

The victim, a woman in her 40s, is being supported by specialist officers and the investigation continues, an Essex Police spokesman said.

A suspect, 49-year-old Wayne Byfield of Southchurch Rectory Road, Southend was arrested on suspicion or rape and was later charged with a single count of attempted rape.

Byfield appeared before magistrates in Chelmsford on Saturday and has been remanded in custody.

He is next due to appear at Basildon Combined Court on Monday 12 August.

Anyone who has any information about the incident should call 101 and ask to be put through to the Southend ASAIT Team or report it via the Essex Police online portal.

Members of the public should also contact the police if they have any information or footage in relation to the incident.

Quote incident 1281 of 11 July when providing any information to make sure it gets to the right person as quickly as possible.