A PENSIONER missing from his Huddersfield home was found by the West Yorkshire Police helicopter.

Police were alerted on Thursday afternoon that a vulnerable man in his 80's was missing from his home after going out for a walk earlier but failing to return.

The helicopter crew were in the air within five minutes and using specialist equipment on board - the thermal imaging camera, search light and GPS mapping system - and were able to conduct an extensive search of land covering 12 square kilometres.

They then searched along a railway line running from Denby Dale to Penistone and found the missing man next to the track under the Carr Road overbridge in South Yorkshire.

Ground crews and an ambulance were then directed to the scene. The man was conscious but cold and suffering a slight injury to his arm.

John Whittaker - who runs the Air Operations Unit - said: "This was a great example of how the helicopter can help save lives. Had we not been able to use the specialist equipment on board to find the man, it could have been some time before he was located and he may have suffered as a result of the dropping temperatures.

"We're pleased that he was found on the same day with only a minor injury and was able to be reunited with loved ones."