A BORED pensioner triggered a major alert at a North-East hospital when he decided to sneak out for a game of bingo.

The police were called when nurses at Sunderland Royal Hospital discovered one of their patients was missing.

The unnamed 69-year-old man had disappeared after being admitted on to an acute ward.

When managers realised that the patient had gone they ordered a search of the hospital and contacted his family.

After failing to find the man, managers asked Northumbria Police to mount a wider search.

Carol Harries, spokeswoman for the City Hospitals Sunderland Foundation NHS Trust, said: "He had apparently said to the other patients that he was going outside for a spot of fresh air.

"Some of the patients said he was desperate to go to the bingo."

A call to the missing man's wife confirmed his interest in bingo and suggested where police officers should begin their search.

A spokeswoman for Northumbria Police said: "He was found at the Gala Bingo Hall, in Sunderland, at 7.50pm, and returned to the hospital."

It is believed that the missing man asked officers whether he could finish the game he was playing before going back to the ward.

A spokeswoman for Gala Bingo said: "We can confirm a male member visited the Pallion New Road Club during the early evening. The member was dressed normally and did not give staff any cause for concern."