AN ELDERLY woman who went missing from a hospital ward spent 12 hours wandering on the moors between Burnley and Nelson in freezing conditions before being found safe and well.

Lancashire Police's helicopter, dog handlers and uniformed officers, backed by members of Rossendale Search and Rescue team, combed the area around Briercliffe yesterday after the 70-year-old woman from Nelson was discovered missing from a mental health day care unit at Burnley General Hospital.

She was discovered by a police dog handler at 2am today in a ravine near Extwistle Hall, Roggerham Gate, near Briercliffe.

The woman, who has not been named by police, was suffering from the effects of the cold but was otherwise unharmed. She was taken to Burnley General Hospital for treatment.

Sergeant John Fry, of Burnley police, said: "The woman was discovered missing around 2pm yesterday. She had wandered off and gone missing before.

"We made a protracted search for her considering her age and mental state and the horrendous weather conditions. At one point the searchers were working though a blizzard.

"A member of the public rang us to say they thought they had seen the woman on Nelson Golf Course, off King's Causeway, Brierfield, so the search was concentrated in that area."

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