Image copyright PA Image caption Officers from the local police and the Civil Guard took part in the search for John Noakes

Former Blue Peter presenter John Noakes has been found, after going missing from his home in Majorca.

Police in Andratx had been searching for Noakes, who has Alzheimer's disease, after they were alerted by the 81-year-old's wife Vicky at about 09:00 local time.

Police in Majorca told the BBC he was spotted by a helicopter at around 18:45 local time close to his home.

He is now in hospital and his wife is with him.

An update on the town's Facebook page said that Noakes had been taken to hospital and was in a stable condition.

His wife said search parties had looked in the area where he was eventually discovered earlier in the day but failed to spot him because he was "in the bottom of a storm drain and had fallen in amongst long grass there".

"I would like to say that the emergency services have been really excellent and pulled out all the stops, and they were greatly helped by our friends and local people," she said.

An Andratx police officer said Noakes was "found to have a weak heartbeat" and was dehydrated.

Noakes presented the BBC children's show for 12 years from 1966 to 1978.

Police and civil guard had been searching for him in the village. They said his wife was worried "because of his state of health and the heat, which is around 35C (95F) today."

Image copyright PA Image caption John Noakes (right) and his dog Shep are pictured here in 1972 with fellow presenters (from left) Peter Purves, Lesley Judd and Valerie Singleton

Image copyright Andratx town hall/PA Image caption Andratx town hall issued a photo of former Blue Peter presenter John Noakes

Two photos of Noakes had been posted on the local council's Facebook page asking people to look out for him.

Noakes moved to Majorca with his wife after a round-the-world yacht trip was cut short when their boat was badly damaged by a giant wave off the coast of North Africa.

They had embarked on the trip after Noakes quit Blue Peter in 1978, and Go With Noakes 18 months later.

Noakes, who trained as an aircraft engine fitter before training as an actor, was 31 when he made his first appearance on BBC One's Blue Peter.

He became a firm favourite with fans for his friendship with his border collie Shep and became the show's longest-running presenter.

Famous for his on-air efforts to calm down his lively dog, Noakes was often heard saying "Get down Shep!" which prompted the Barron Knights' 1978 song of the same name.