FIREFIGHTERS from Droitwich have helped find an elderly man with dementia who went missing in the town last night.

At around midnight, a man in his 70s was reported missing to West Mercia Police and he was declared a high-risk missing person.

As part of the search efforts, police officers contacted Droitwich Fire Station and two engines were used to help patrol the town. In particular, they used spotlights and thermal imaging cameras to search Vines Park and Lido Park.

At 5.48am, as part of the plan co-ordinated by the police to patrol the town, one of the engines located the man in Tagwell Road, lying on a patch of grass between two domestic properties.

Crew Commander Jamie Perks said: “From time to time, the police will ask us to support them in a search for a vulnerable person. We can put to good use the equipment we usually use to tackle fires or rescues.

“We were really pleased that on this occasion our involvement led to the man being found and that he could be returned to his family.”