Missing man rescued after three-day search

An elderly man has been rescued from a steep hillside after a three-day search.

Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team (NNPMRT) said more than 70 volunteers helped police hunt for the man, who disappeared near Wooler Common while visiting family on Monday.

The 88-year-old man, from Stockton-on-Tees, was found by a group of people on hillside to the south-east of Wooler on Wednesday afternoon and taken to hospital.

The mountain rescue team thanked residents, shepherds and game keepers who used quad bikes to help in the search and added that "true community efforts brought this long and complex incident to a successful conclusion".

The man was heading towards the Duck Ponds when he went missing.

Mountain rescue teams were deployed on Monday evening and continued through until 03:30 BST on Tuesday.

Thermal imaging units and drones were used over extensive ground as the search continued on Tuesday and Wednesday, NNPMRT said.

After the man was found, he was carried on a stretcher to a waiting ambulance.

NNPMRT said specialist dog teams, the National Police Air Service, Northumbria Police took part in the search.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency helicopter from Prestwick and the Great North Air Ambulance Service had also been tasked to help but were stood down.