DETECTIVES appealed last night for the Iraqi Kurd community in Ipswich to help them in their hunt for a couple who have disappeared, leaving two children.

DETECTIVES appealed last night for the Iraqi Kurd community in Ipswich to help them in their hunt for a couple who have disappeared, leaving two children.

Farik Farukh, an Iraqi Kurd living in Southend, has not been seen since he left his partner's children with a babysitter in the town a week ago yesterday, saying he would collect them after work at a pub.

When he did not show up, the alarm was raised and it was discovered that their mother, Inga Losiene, had disappeared two days earlier.

Detectives revealed last night Mr Farukh has strong links with the Iraqi Kurd community in Ipswich and appealed for anyone who knew the couple to contact them.

Police remain increasingly concerned about the welfare of Ms Losiene.

Det Supt Simon Dinsdale, who is leading the investigation into their disappearance, said: "We are making inquiries with all the friends and associates of Inga and Farik and would like to hear from anyone who knew them."

Ms Losiene, 32, who is from Lithuania, was last seen shopping near her home in Southend last Friday.

A spokeswoman for Essex Police said they were using interpreters to work with people who knew the couple in an effort to uncover more information about what might have happened to them.

The spokeswoman added that a number of inquiries still needed to be made and confirmed Ms Losiene's children, a girl aged 11 and a boy aged six, were still with their relatives.

Detectives have carried out forensic tests on a blue-grey Rover belonging to Mr Farukh found beside the A14 near Trimley in Suffolk on Thursday.

But the spokeswoman revealed last night that the car was no longer central to their enquiries.

Officers said it was known Mr Farukh, also 32, collected the children from school in Southend on Friday afternoon and drove them to Ipswich.

They said 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.

An elderly couple have since contacted police to say they offered a man fitting Mr Farukh's description and two children a lift.

Police are treating the case as a missing persons' inquiry and have said there is nothing to suggest anything sinister, but admitted nothing could be ruled out.

Ms Losiene is described as 5ft 4ins to 5ft 8ins tall, with shoulder length dyed blonde hair and blue eyes. She may be wearing a gold necklace. Mr Farukh is of Middle Eastern appearance with dark hair.