A FEMALE patient who went missing from Westmorland General Hospital last night - sparking a police helicopter search - has been found safe and well.

A helicopter from the National Police Air Service, based at Warton, Lancashire, combed the skies above Oxenholme and Kendal last night to assist Cumbria Police with the search.

However, police revealed today that the woman has been found safe and well.

PCSO Tom Robinson, of Kendal Police, thanked the public for its help.

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He said: "We received some useful phone calls from members of the public who had spotted the missing person."

Kendal Police said last night the 5ft 5-inch tall woman was last seen, wearing black clothes, parka jacket with a woolly hat and pink glasses, heading towards Oxenholme at 6.15pm. 

The helicopter searched The Helm area of Oxenholme and nearby railway lines.