An 89-year-old British World War II veteran who went missing from his retirement home has been found 12 hours later in Normandy enjoying a get-together with his former comrades.

The unnamed veteran had been told by his carers that he could not attend the events to mark the 70th anniversary of the landings in northern France.

But he defiantly pinned on his medals under his raincoat, slipped out of the care home in Hove on the southeast English coast and set off for France, it was reported.

‘Great Escaper’ D-Day veteran Bernard Jordan vows: ‘I’ll do it again next year’ http://t.co/acoFYvUdHh pic.twitter.com/4yCWECKhJW

— ITV News (@itvnews) June 6, 2014

After the alarm was raised at the home, police searched the area and checked hospitals and bus and taxi companies.

On Thursday evening, another veteran told police that the missing man had joined a coach party and made his way to Ouistreham, where the main D-Day commemoration took place on Friday.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said the nursing home received a phone call late on Thursday from a younger veteran, who said he had met the pensioner on a coach on the way to France and that they were safe and well in a hotel in Ouistreham.

“We have spoken to the veteran who called the home today and are satisfied that the pensioner is fine and that his friends are going to ensure he gets back to Hove safely over the next couple of days after the D-Day celebrations finish.”