Concern grows for missing mother

The couple have not been in touch with their two young children

Detectives looking for a missing couple say they are seriously concerned for the safety of one of them.

Farik Farukh, 32, an Iraqi Kurd, was last seen on Sunday when he left his partner's two children with a babysitter while he went to work.

The alarm was raised when it was also discovered that their mother, Inga Losiene, 32, had disappeared two days earlier.

Ms Losiene, from Lithuania, was last seen near her home in Southend, Essex.

Children interviewed

On Friday night Det Supt Simon Dinsdale, from Essex police, said: "I have serious concerns about Inga's safety and urgently require information about her whereabouts and well-being."

He said he was also anxious to hear from anyone with any information about Mr Farukh's whereabouts.

Police have been speaking to Ms Losiene's children, a girl aged 11 and a boy aged six, in the hope they may be able to give any clues as to what has happened.

The youngsters are currently being cared for by relatives.

Abandoned car

A blue-grey Rover belonging to Mr Farukh was found beside the A14 near Trimley in Suffolk on Thursday.

Officers said it was known Mr Farukh collected the children from school in Southend on Friday afternoon and drove them to Ipswich.

They have told police that as he drove back the next morning the car broke down and Mr Farukh had to flag down an elderly couple to get a lift to Felixstowe railway station.

The couple have since contacted police confirming the children's version of events.

Ms Losiene is described as 5ft 4ins to 5ft 8ins tall, with shoulder-length dyed blonde hair and blue eyes.