Pensioner spends 30 hours on M25 trip

An 82-year-old man spent more than 30 hours on the M25 after getting lost on a journey that should have taken about an hour.

Dennis Leighton left his home in Windsor in Berkshire on Monday to visit his daughter 55 miles away in Swanley in Kent.

When he did not arrive his family phoned the police.

He was found early on Wednesday morning in south London. Police said he was safe and well.

A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: "He got a little bit lost but was found safe and well in the early hours."

Mr Leighton's silver Vauxhall estate had been picked up on Tuesday evening by a police automatic number plate recognition camera in Dartford, only six miles away from his destination.

Police said they thought he may have spent a large part of the time parked in a lay-by or services.

There was no explanation for how he had spent his time but a police spokesman said he "had not been driving round solidly for 30 hours".