MISSING dad Derek Watkins has been found safe and well in Boscombe.

The 69-year-old, who suffers from dementia and is unsteady on his feet, went missing first thing this morning.

His ex-wife had come to collect him from his sheltered accomodation, but found him gone. His family rushed out to look for him, launching an appeal for help on social media.

Hundreds of people retweeted his picture to help find him and more than 600 people shared the Echo's appeal on Facebook.

After four hours, Mr Watkins was found by his family after he returned to his sheltered accommodation.

His daughter, Hannah Clarke, said: “He had taken himself off for a lovely walk.

"My step-dad spotted him coming round the corner, he is very sunburned and absolutely shattered but he had a big smile on his face, he didn't know what all the fuss was about.

"We were very worried and it has been amazing how people have helped out with trying to find him, people are brilliant like that."