A PENSIONER who tried to kill himself by slitting his wrist and taking an overdose was prevented from bleeding to death by the cold weather.

Philip Thomas, 84, of Spring Street, Rishton, went missing after leaving the home he shares with wife Agnes to go on a weekly shopping trip to Blackburn at 1pm on Friday.

He was discovered at 3.25pm on Saturday by Sgt Paul Fowler and PC John Taylor from Darwen police, who were investigating an unrelated crime in woodland at Charter's Moss Plantation, off Stones Bank Road, Belmont.

Sgt Fowler saw Mr Thomas lying in a hollow 120 yards from the road - and police said he was an hour from death.

Police said the pensioner had cut his wrists and empty paracetamol packets were discovered near to him.

However, police said that the cold weather, with temperatures plunging to -4C on Friday night, had reduced his circulation and prevented him bleeding to death.

Inspector Steve Haworth said Mr Thomas was an hour away from dying, either by further bleeding or hypothermia.

Several letters to members of his family were on him and there was also a note to the coroner informing him he had intended to commit suicide, police said.

Insp Haworth said Mr Thomas must have kept his problems to himself as his family were completely unaware that he had any intentions of committing suicide.

Today Mr Thomas was recovering at Blackburn Royal Infirmary, where he was being comforted by his family.

It is understood that he had taken about a dozen paracetamol. It is thought it takes about 48 hours to die from a paracetamol overdose.

Insp Haworth praised the policing operation to trace Mr Thomas and Sgt Fowler's actions on finding him.

A major operation to find him was backed by East Lancashire Mountain Rescue.

He said: "We are delighted the gentleman has been found.

"Obviously there are some very sad circumstances surrounding it. He must have kept some things to himself as his family had no idea it was likely that he may commit suicide. "

On how Mr Thomas survived he said: "The cold weather reduced his circulation so that slitting his wrist did not prove fatal. There was less blood flowing to his extremities.

"The cold weather saved him, which is not what you normally expect."

Sgt Fowler said: "It's very pleasing that we found him."