The Essex Police helicopter was called in to help search for a missing woman in Colchester.

Police officers could be seen searching the undergrowth beside a bridge on Cowdray Avenue at about 6.45am yesterday.

The helicopter was spotted hovering overhead two hours later.

A police spokesman confirmed that officers had been helping search for a woman who was thought to have gone missing.

The search was called off after she made contact with a member of her family.