Police today thanked the public for their help in tracing a pensioner with Alzheimer's disease who vanished from a shopping centre in Eastbourne.

A town-wide search for Marie Robeson, 76, was launched after she disappeared from Langney Shopping Centre at 2pm yesterday.

She walked off while her husband, Gilbert, went to buy some drinks for them. He called police when he returned to find her gone.

The force's dog unit, helicopter, CCTV operators, specialist search teams, cadets, Special constables and about 30 officers were involved in the search.

Residents also took to the streets with community wardens as her description was circulated to taxi firms, bus companies, shops and pubs in the area.

The search ended at 8pm last night when a Polegate resident spotted Mrs Robeson at the junction of Polegate High Street with the A22, four miles from the shopping centre.

Inspector Marion Sandwell, who co-ordinated the search, said: "This was an impressive result. The community and media reaction to our appeals for sightings struck a chord with officers engaged in the search.

"Without everyone pulling together, I dread to think of the consequences.

"I'm personally grateful to the man who located Marie. His diligence and quick thinking meant we were able to reunite Marie with her husband."

Police are unsure how Marie got to Polegate but believe she walked the distance.