POLICE searching for a missing pensioner have found a body.

Growing concerns for the welfare of Georgina Hardy, 77, from The Fairings in Fordingbridge, sparked a major search over the last ten days, with scores of officers combing the Forest.

Ms Hardy, known to her family and friends as Mavis, was reported missing last week but had not been seen since Monday, November 14.

Officers were alerted when a dog walker came across a body in countryside in Bickton, just outside the town, yesterday morning.

Ms Hardy is described as a sociable person who was regularly seen out and about. Police say she lived alone and was known to be frail and suffering from depression.

During the search officers went through her address book, contacted travel agents and carried out numerous searches of her house, but fears grew when it was discovered she had not taken personal possessions such as her glasses and purse with her.

Inspector Simon Tribe from Ringwood Police said an intensive search was conducted of places she liked to visit, including Linwood, Cranborne and around Moyles Court, near Ringwood.

As well as specialist officers and volunteer units, the air support team and the dog unit were also deployed.

Nearly 50 officers were out searching over the weekend.

Police have also reached out to the local farming and horse riding community as well as groups like the Verderers.

Officers had also followed up a possible sighting by a horse rider last week but no others had been reported.