POLICE praised the public who helped them arrest a man at the weekend. The chase began in the Church Street area of Clifton just before 2pm on Saturday when a man answering the description of one wanted for questioning concerning a sex offence against a c

POLICE praised the public who helped them arrest a man at the weekend.

The chase began in the Church Street area of Clifton just before 2pm on Saturday when a man answering the description of one wanted for questioning concerning a sex offence against a child was spotted.

Police have been hunting a man following a sexual assault on an 11-year-old girl in the village on April 22.

Attempts to apprehend the man then moved across the village and the man was next seen running close to the A507 on the outskirts of Shefford near the Esso petrol station on the by-pass.

Police called in the force helicopter after the man disappeared but he was later spotted entering woodland near Meppershall.

Officers in the force helicopter directed colleagues on the ground - some on off-road motorbikes others on foot include a dog handler and an off duty officer and members of the public - to where the man was hiding.

Soon after being spotted a man was arrested as he tried to flee from the woods.

The man was taken to Dunstable police station for questioning and later released on bail to report back to police tomorrow (Friday).

"We would like to thank those members of the public who help us in the hunt for the man. Their efforts were greatly appreciated," said a police spokesman.