THE police helicopter was launched on Sunday (Aug 19) to help find a missing Bury pensioner.

The 73-year-old woman, who suffers from diabetes and Alzheimer's disease, wandered off from her home in Unsworth at 4pm.

Her husband alerted local police, who called for assistance from India 99, the call sign of Greater Manchester Police's new helicopter.

The aircraft's crew used the sky-shout PA system to appeal to residents below to keep look out for the woman.

However, the pensioner was returned home safe and sound after turning up at a shop in Ribble Drive, Whitefield, at 5.30pm.