AN elderly woman who sparked a full-scale police search when she went missing from a nursing home has been found safe and well.

The woman, who suffers from Alzheimer's Disease, was found by Slough police.

She was wandering along Denham Lane, Chalfont St Peter, almost two hours after she disappeared.

Staff at Chalfont Lodge Nursing Home, Denham Lane, Chalfont St Peter, realised at 5.30pm on Monday the woman was not in the centre.

After searching the 20-acre grounds of the home, staff alerted Gerrards Cross police.

Officers scoured the area with a helicopter, thermal imaging cameras and a dog-handler before a patrol car from Slough found the woman safe and well near the M25 at 7.20pm.

Penny Harris, of Slade Oak Lane, Chalfont St Peter, says she found another elderly woman wandering around her farmyard the same day.

Mrs Harris told how she returned the woman to Chalfont Lodge.

Jaki Foran, general manager at Chalfont Lodge Nursing Home, said staff were concerned about the Alzheimer's Disease sufferer because the grounds of the home are so large.

Mrs Foran said: "She is fine and we are obviously relieved that she has been found extremely well and that no harm has been done.

"An investigation has begun and when it is complete, all necessary action will be taken to ensure this situation cannot happen again.

"When we could not find her, we called in the police."

Mrs Foran refused to confirm or deny that a second woman went missing.

A spokesman for Gerrards Cross police said: "It was definitely a relief to find her - any elderly person that wanders off is a worry."

The spokesman added: "Luckily, she was fine and there was a happy ending."

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