A man has been charged with trying to arrange the murder of a woman.

Steven Hellewell, 49, of Gorse Close, in Tadworth was charged yesterday, December 18, with soliciting murder after threats were made against a woman in her 40s, also from Tadworth.

He appeared at South East Surrey Magistrates Court later the same day where he was remanded to appear at Guildford Crown Court on January 3.

Concern surrounding the safety of the woman was raised with police on the afternoon of December 16 by a third party and a man in his 40s was arrested a short time later on Brighton Road in Tadworth.

Senior investigating officer Detective Inspector Sean Kelly, from East Surrey Public Protection, said: "Surrey Police will always take allegations of this nature seriously and treat any intelligence given to us by members of the public in the strictest of confidence.

"I hope the quick action of the public protection team demonstrates the lengths we will go to target those who may pose a risk against the Surrey community and encourages other people to confide in us."