A huge search and rescue operation was launched after a man went missing as temperatures plunged to near freezing last night.

Police and coastguard teams were called at 9pm following a report a man in his 50s had disappeared in New Romney.

He was found more than two hours later by a coastguard search team on the beach at Greatstone and was suffering from mild hypothermia.

The search involved volunteers from the coastguard rescue teams based at Dungeness and Folkestone as well as British Transport Police officers who searched trains and railway stations.

PC Abigail Newman from Kent Police said: "It was very cold last night with temperatures barely above freezing, and we were very concerned about the missing man.

"We’re grateful to all the other agencies for helping, particularly the Coastguard Rescue Team from Dungeness who found him."