A MAN has been charged with rape after an alleged attack in Westcliff on bank holiday Monday.

Charlie Montgomery, 26, of Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff, was arrested on Tuesday afternoon and is accused of raping a woman in the early hours of the morning in London Road, near the junction with Ceylon Road.

Montgomery has also been charged with sexual assault and actual bodily harm.

He appeared at Southend Magistrates’ Court yesterday in handcuffs and wearing a red jumper.

He spoke only to give his name, age and address to the court, before he was led back to the cells.Apolice cordon was put up at the junction, near Pizza Hut, on Monday morning.

It stretched around the front of the building to the corner of the shop next door and also encompassed the alleyway behind the shop leading off Ceylon Road.

Scenes of crime and speciallytrained officers stayed on the scene and spoke with local residents. Montgomery will next appear at Basildon Crown Court on November 11.

Meanwhile, police are continuing to appeal for witnesses to contact officers at the sexual offences investigation team on 101.

Officers also believe there may have been some kind of altercation near Hamlet Court Road and ask anyone who saw anything to contact them too.