A HELICOPTER and horses were brought into a dramatic manhunt as police were alerted to a “suspicious” dumped car.

Detectives were called to an abandoned vehicle in Shenfield Common, Brentwood last Thursday [November 18] as part of a search for a 71-year-old man who went missing.

A witness said: “I heard the helicopter and came running outside. We were all wondering if there had been a murder when it came over my house and police searched with dogs and horses. I was told the car had been abandoned for four days and there was a blanket and lots of gear in the car.”

A spokeswoman for Essex Police refused to confirm how many officers were used in the operation, adding: “Police were contacted at 11.30am on November 18 with reports of a missing man aged 71 who was last seen at an address Hutton, The man from Kent was later found at the offices of Brentwood Council at 1.30pm following a search which included use of horse and helicopter.”