Two ambulance volunteers say they are “appalled” after a policeman allegedly refused to let them treat a man in his 90s who was injured after going missing from a care home.

Victoria Arnold and her partner, who are both trained St John Ambulance volunteers, claim they were turned away by the officer when they offered to help on Boxing Day.

The pensioner suffered minor head and hand injuries after going astray from Attwoods Manor, on Mount Hill, Halstead.

His disappearance had sparked a search involving police, but he was found in nearby Braintree Road about 20 minutes after police were called.

The couple were driving when they arrived at the scene of the incident, where they claim a single policeman was directing traffic while he waited for colleagues and paramedics to arrive.

No one from Essex Police was available for comment.