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.