A BODY found in a lake at Poole is believed to be that of a missing 80-year old woman.

Increasing concern was raised by police for the welfare of Patricia Mills, who was last seen at her home address in Russell Gardens, Turlin Moor at Tuesday lunchtime.

Around 2pm yesterday Dorset Search and Rescue Volunteers discovered the body of a woman at Rockley Lake, Hamworthy.

Officers set up a cordon around the track leading to the popular Ham Common beauty spot.

The body was recovered from the water and ambulance staff confirmed she was dead at the scene.

Neighbours last night remembered her as a “very nice” woman who loved her garden.

Ian Bodman, 46, a self employed landscaper said: "She always seemed to be polite and never had a bad word to say."

Vanessa Bodman, 42, a hairdresser, had been a neighbour for 18 years and said: "She was a very active lady and used to cycle everywhere but she has been poorly the last four or five years.

"She used to get the bus too – she was always off doing something.

"She would be in her garden most days.

"She lived there on her own and had carers and recently you only saw her now and again.

"She was very nice lady."

Dale Christopher, 31, a handyman, said: "There were three really nice older ladies who would visit and bring her flowers.

"It's a shame. The police said her walking stick was still in the house."

Amy Edwards, 25, a customer service adviser, said: "I saw the police there this morning and I hoped she was all right.

"She had a funny turn about a year ago where she thought she could smell gas and called the fire brigade but they said there wasn't anything.

"One of the other neighbours found her walking down Egmont Road the other day and brought her back home.”

Denise Cooper, 44, a cleaner, said: "I have known her for 15 years. She was a nice lady and always said hello.

"She used to love her gardening, she was always pottering around in the garden.

"I saw her yesterday coming back through an alleyway and said hello.

"But she looked at me as if 'I know you but I don't know you'."

A police spokesman said formal identification had not taken place but added: “The woman is believed to be 80-year-old Patricia Mills.”

The coroner and next of kin have been informed and police are not treating the death as suspicious.

A Poole Coastguard team had joined police in an overnight search for Patricia Mills, and police launched an urgent appeal for anyone who had seen the vulnerable pensioner to contact them.

Officers assisted by the force helicopter searched the Turlin Moor area on Tuesday evening. Coastguards helped search the Turlin Moor and Upton area but were stood down at 3am when nothing was found.