AN URGENT appeal launched to find an elderly woman who "wandered off" from her family while out picking apples has been successful.

Sussex Police issued the plea at about 5.15pm today asking anyone who sees a "small, elderly lady" in the Peasmarsh, Rye and Iden areas to call 999 immediately.

The missing woman was 84 years old, 4ft 10in tall and had been missing since about 3pm.

Anyone who saw her was urged to call 999 immediately.

However, at 5.40pm, the force provided an update saying the search had been successful.

A spokesman said: "Good news, the elderly lady we were searching for in the Iden area after she wandered off this afternoon has just been found by our officers, safe and well, walking nearby."