A pensioner who had been missing in woods for three nights is recovering in Tunbridge Wells Hospital at Pembury.

Len Crook, from Tonbridge, was found by Kent Police and Lowland Search and Rescue volunteers combing Redleaf Woods at Chiddingstone Causeway at around 7am on Saturday morning.

His son Paul Crook from Maidstone said: "He was in a really bad way, dehydrated and with pneumonia. They certainly saved his life; he wouldn't have lasted much longer."

Concerns were first raised over the 85-year-old, who lives alone, but suffers from Alzheimer's, when he didn't answer the phone on Friday.

Paul said: "He's a bit deaf and it's not unusual for him not to answer, but when I made inquiries, no-one had heard from him."

Len's car was later found parked near the library in Tonbridge town centre - where it had collected a number of parking tickets.

Watch: Interview with KSAR who carried out the search

Shopping receipts in the car confirmed that he had been shopping in the High Street on Wednesday, but the last sighting of him was on CCTV at 5.25pm.

Police tried to track his whereabouts by using the signal from his mobile phone, but the readings were inconclusive.

Eventually, Len actually answered his mobile phone to his son.

Paul said: "He was very confused and couldn't tell us where he was, but I could hear the sound of airplanes in the background. Then his phone died and we lost signal the altogether."

The search was concentrated on woods under known London airport flight paths and he was found after five hours.

When he was discovered the rescuers found that Len had fallen and injured his foot and was unable to get up.

Paul Crook said: "He was delirious. He has no food or water with him and he must have spent several nights in the woods.

"We assume he had forgotten where he parked the car and was trying to walk home - in the wrong direction, but Dad doesn't remember anything about it."

Paul Crook said: "I want to thank both the police and the search and rescue team. They were so professional and dedicated. They saved his life, them and his tatty old Nokia."

Mr Crook said the family has contacted DVLA and asked them to take his father's driving licence away because of his father's dementia.