Hertfordshire newspaper The Comet has helped to track down a man who had been on the run from police.

The Archant weekly launched a new feature to find people who failed to turn up at court, and in its first week a man wanted on warrant for a sexual assault was captured.

The man’s details and picture were published after The Comet teamed up with Hertfordshire Police, and six days later he handed himself in.

A second man who featured in the same article was also arrested.

Editor Darren Isted said: “Our reporter Damion Roberts came up with the idea which he had spotted in another publication and we are amazed with the response.

“The public clearly want to play their part and to score two direct hits in the first week really shows what a vital role a newspaper can fulfil in its community.”

Police had received a number of phone calls and leads in response to the article and Stephen Johnson, from Hertfordshire Police’s warrant and tasking unit, said he thought this had made life just too uncomfortable for the man who handed himself in.

Following its early success The Comet is continuing to run further appeals.