A CONCERNED son was today grateful to have his 82-year-old father home again after he went missing in Suffolk for the second time in a week.Eric Jay, who suffers from Alzheimer's disease, was found alive and well in a field several miles from his Shotley home yesterday afternoon.

A CONCERNED son was today grateful to have his 82-year-old father home again after he went missing in Suffolk for the second time in a week.

Eric Jay, who suffers from Alzheimer's disease, was found alive and well in a field several miles from his Shotley home yesterday afternoon.

Mr Jay, of Garden Close, sparked a massive search operation by the family, police, coastguards, search and rescue teams and an RAF helicopter after he was reported missing on Monday evening.

He was eventually found in a field near Brantham in good spirits and dry - despite being out in the thunderstorm in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Mr Jay's son, Trevor, 58, said: “It was very stressful. He was in good condition but was only wearing a T-shirt. He must have found shelter.

“He had no recollection of where he had been. In his own mind he has had no suffering. I am eternally grateful to the emergency services again.”

Eric went missing just last week under very similar circumstances when he was found by a police dog in a field near Erwarton after becoming confused while out walking.

Trevor, of Orwell View, Shotley, has spoken of his concern about the grip Alzheimer's was having on his father but was yesterday boosted by news of a successful drug trial on the disease.

In preliminary tests, Rember has been shown to slow the rate of mental decline in patients by up to 81 per cent.

Trevor said: “It is marvellous. It could transform a number of lives. Unless you have lived with someone with Alzheimer's you can't comprehend the effect it has.”

Have you come face-to-face with the effects of Alzheimer's? Write to Your Letters, The Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or send us an e-mail to eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk