A care home insists the safety of residents is a top priority, despite having to call in police to help search for a man in his 90s who had gone missing.

The pensioner went astray from Attwoods Manor, on Mount Hill, Halstead, on Boxing Day evening.

Fortunately, he was found nearby after a brief search involving at least three police cars, but he was cold, wet and had suffered minor injuries.

An Essex Police spokesman said officers were contacted just before 9.30pm after concerns were raised about a resident who had left the home and was missing.

She said the resident, a man in his 90s, was found in Braintree Road about 20 minutes later and had suffered minor head and hand injuries.