Former Blue Peter presenter John Noakes has been found safe and well after going missing for seven hours in Spain.

Local police in Andratx said they were alerted by the 81-year-old's wife Vicky at around 8am on the island of Majorca.

Officers from the local police and the Civil Guard are taking part in the search, with volunteers joining in this afternoon

Mr Noakes, who is Blue Peter's longest-serving presenter, suffers from Alzheimer's disease local police said.

However, he was later found in a drainage pipe after being missing for most of the day on Spain's hottest day of the year.

His wife said he was being taken to hospital for checks, but his condition was not life-threatening.

An Andratx local police officer said: "We are searching for Mr Noakes in the village.

"His wife reported him missing this morning. She is worried because of his state of health and the heat, which is around 35C (95F) today."

The former presenter worked on Blue Peter for 12 years and six months in the 1960s and 1970s.

Andratx town hall put two pictures of Mr Noakes on its Facebook page.

A message read: "We asking for the public's help to find this missing man.

"He was wearing light blue shorts and a white and blue shirt. He is 81."