Missing former Blue Peter presenter John Noakes has been found near his Majorca home after going missing for more than eight hours on Spain’s hottest day of the year.

The 81-year-old, who has Alzheimer’s Disease, was found in a storm drain about one kilometre from his home, his wife Vicky said.

Mr Noakes, who is Blue Peter’s longest-serving presenter, is now being taken to hospital in the city of Palma.

Queen Elizabeth II receiving Blue Peter presenter John Noakes
(Fiona Hanson/PA)

Mrs Noakes, who was on her way to the hospital to be reunited with her husband, said: “I don’t know exactly what state he is in but the Guardia said that as far as they could see there were no life threatening injuries.

“They are taking him by helicopter to the main hospital in Palma. He has been out in the sun for at least eight hours so I guess he is probably dehydrated.”

photo issued by the Andratx town hall of a poster for former Blue Peter presenter John Noakes
(Andratx town hall/PA)

Police in Andratx on the south west of the Mediterranean island were alerted to his disappearance at around 8am on what has been Spain’s hottest day so far this year.

Reunited former Blue Peter presenters (L-R) Peter Purves, Valerie Singleton and John Noakes with mice Ben and Jerry, Marge the Chinchilla and Smokey the Hamster, at RSPCA Southridge Animal Centre in Potters Bar, Hertfordshire
(Yui Mok/PA)

Officers were joined in their searches by friends of the couple and local residents, and Mr Noakes was eventually discovered in an overgrown culvert less than a mile from their home at around 7pm, 6pm British time.