A Gosport social worker who went missing 12 days ago has been reunited with her family after she re-turned home safe and well.

During her disappearance Alison Counsell, pictured above, stayed in hotels across West Sussex to escape the pressures of work and spend some time alone.

The first contact the 49-year-old made with her family was on Sunday when she phoned them to say she was okay.

Yesterday, Miss Counsell, the oldest of six children, was finally reunited with her brothers and sisters.

DC Paul Diaper, of Gosport police, visited Miss Counsell at her Bury Road home and described her as in good health but embarrassed at the publicity surrounding her disappearance.

He said: "She's back safe and well. She appears in good health and her family is delighted to see her. They are all very grateful for the support they have been given.

"Now Miss Counsell is going to get back to her life. She works in a high- pressure job for Social Services and needed to take some time out alone."

Police began their hunt for Miss Counsell on Friday, April 26 after she left her house to go to work in Portsmouth but failed to turn up.

Detectives released details about her car and CCTV pictures of her last known movements at the Alldays Store in Privett Road, Gosport, in a bid to trace her.

Miss Counsell's brothers and sisters, Rebecca, 40, Caroline, 45, Sarah, 39, Julian 47 and Jonathan, 40, grew increasingly concerned at their sister's disappearance especially since they knew her to be suffering from depression.

Rebecca Counsell last week made an emotional plea for her sister's return after describing her disappearance as totally out of character.