A man charged with attempting to steal post from residential mail boxes is due to appear in court today,

Police officers on patrol spotted a man in Chester Road, Loughton, yesterday lunchtime and, following a chase, arrested him.

Daniel Witham, 26 of no fixed address, was charged with the attempted theft of mail as well as an unconnected theft, which happened in Loughton on May 3.

He was remanded in custody to appear before magistrates in Chelmsford today.