I am trying to get the following loop working to fill an array of arrays:

while (condition) {
[itemsArray fillFromDB];

if (! [checkArray containsObject:checkFlag]) {
  // Add existing itemsArray to myArray
  if (itemsArray.count) {
    // add the itemsArray to myArray and create a new instance of itemsArray
    [myArray addObject:itemsArray];
    [itemsArray release];
    NSMutableArray *itemsArray = [[NSMutableArray alloc] init];
  }
  [itemsArray addObject:myObject];
  [checkArray addObject:checkFlag];
} else {
  [itemsArray addObject:tmpEvent];
}  }

However I try to shape this loop it falls over the release of itemsArray

• when I use release (as above), the array does not re-initialise as a new instance with alloc. Whilst expecting emptyness, the next Object is added to the old array.
• when I use removeAllObjects, my Array is emptied and so is the array attached to myArray.

Where am I going in the wrong direction?