‘Police were fantastic in finding my missing grandma’

The vulnerable wanderer went missing from Ridgeway Lodge care home in Brandreth Avenue on Monday afternoon and police were alerted to her disappearance at about 5.20pm.

The police helicopter was deployed shortly afterwards to scour the streets with an officer bellowing ‘shout-outs’ through a megaphone from the skies – as is standard procedure for locating a missing person – to appeal for assistance and the missing woman to come forward.

The woman, who is in her 80s, was located about three-and-a-half hours later near the car park of Lealands High School in Sundon Park Road, Luton.

Police who found the missing woman ensured her safe return to the care home straight away.

Will Fleckney spoke very highly of the efforts by the police to locate his grandmother.

He said, via Facebook: “Thanks Beds Police for all your hard work in finding my gran tonight.”

“You have been fantastic and [I] won’t have a bad word said against you.

“Your help is most appreciated.

“I know it’s your job but [I] can’t thank you enough.

“And to all those locals who helped a big thank you to you too.”