A pensioner with Alzheimer’s who was missing for more than 24 hours was found lying down in a field.

Ioan Phillips, 87, went missing from his home in Letcombe Regis, near Wantage, on Sunday afternoon.

His family feared for the former army major and Second World War veteran’s safety and believe he may not have initially been found by a searching police helicopter because he was covered by oilseed rape he was lying in.

He was found by a dog walker on Monday evening in the field in Letcombe Bassett and last night his wife Lavinia, 84, said she was hugely grateful to everyone who helped in the search for him.

Mrs Phillips said: “He was found lying down in a field of rape on a farm in the village.

“My son thinks he must have just walked in a straight line, through the nature reserve and kept on going until he got tired.

“But we’ll never know.”

She added: “It’s funny that all the police teams and helicopters couldn’t find him, but a dog walker just stumbled on him.

“The farmer said the rape is ready for harvesting, so that’s why the police helicopters didn’t spot him.

“But it probably kept the wind off him if he stayed there all night.”

The grandfather-of-six is now recovering from dehydration and sunburn in the John Radcliffe Hospital.

Maj Phillips served with the Royal Engineers and fought at the Battle of Kohima in 1944 in India.

He moved with his wife to a property off South Road five weeks ago after 30 years in Abingdon and has three sons, Huw, Ifor and Alun.

Search and rescue teams, including Oxfordshire Lowland Search and Rescue, hunted through the night on Sunday to find him.

Mrs Phillips said: “I believe there were lots of people out, which was really lovely.

“I want to thank all of them.”

She added: “I was just very relieved when I got that phone call from the police.”

Maj Phillips is expected to remain in hospital for a few days before returning home.