A man found the body of a missing pensioner slumped on the back seat of his car.

David Abramson, 37, of Lawrence Road, Hove, discovered the man's body when he went to his red Volkswagen Passat at 11.20am yesterday.

Frank Rogers, who had Alzheimer's disease and was in his 60s, had been reported missing from the Bon Accord rest home in New Church Road, Hove, 24 hours earlier.

It is believed he may have been in the vehicle from Saturday afternoon.

Mr Abramson, who works for the Body Shop in Littlehampton, had been about to take his children, Ted, three, and Ella, one, out for a day trip.

He said: "I don't normally leave the car unlocked but I must have done this time.

"I stepped back and thought, 'It can't be my car'. At first I thought he was sleeping, but then a neighbour came out and we both realised he was dead.

"Someone said they had seen the man walking around my car on Saturday afternoon. He must have been in there on one of the hottest days of the year.

"I just wish I had discovered him while he was still alive."

Police towed the car away for tests. A spokesman said: "This is being treated as a tragic accident."