A missing elderly woman with dementia has been found safe and well by her family in Braintree.

Concerned carers phoned the police at 9.15am on Monday, when they discovered the 89-year-old, who had suffered from a fall the week before, was missing from her home in White Notley.

A Surrey Police helicopter was scrambled to search for the woman, who had bruises on her face after the fall and walked with a stick.

Sergeant Dave Wright, of Braintree police, said: “She was put to bed at 9pm on Sunday night by the informant’s husband.

“He left, locking the door.

“They went round in the morning and she wasn’t there.

“Her walking stick was missing and the kettle was still warm so it would appear that she hadn’t been gone that long.”

She was found before 10.30am.