A man who went missing from Colchester General Hospital has been found safe and well.
Gerald Shelcot was reported missing by staff at Colchester General Hospital shortly after 8:30am this morning.
A wide-scale search by police and the police helicopter began, with the officers scouring the hospital grounds, the nearby Highwoods Country Park and surrounding areas in a bid to find him.
He was found safe and well at Tesco Hythe shortly after 2.30pm after a motorist saw him walking along in the Parsons Heath area of the town.
He was returned to the hospital for ongoing treatment.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here