Photo by JEFFREY HASTINGS

MERRIMACK – Merrimack police and fire searched for a missing elderly man Saturday afternoon for several hours.

Police put out alerts to residents that said they were looking for a missing elderly male wearing a blue hoodie, blue jeans and walking a dog. He was last seen in the area of Joppa Road.

Fire crews used off-road vehicles to search the woods and nearby roadways. Police searched on foot and used K9s to search the area. Nashua Police and Londonderry police assisted with resources, including K9s and drones.

New Hampshire Fish and Game had units en route to assist, and specially trained drone operators from Strafford County were also dispatched to assist.

Crews set up a small command post on Forest Drive to coordinate efforts. As darkness set in, units headed to the woods with lights to assist in the search.

At about 7 p.m., a Merrimack police officer radioed the command post that the man and his dog had been located near Joppa and Patten roads. Firefighters and police responded from the command post to medically evaluate the man.

The man did not require medical attention, and was safely returned to the care of relatives.