AN elderly hiker who lost his way sparked one of the region's largest ever search and rescue operations - while safely tucked up in a bed and breakfast just a few miles away.

Seventy-one-year-old Patrick Newall has angered police and the rescue teams who took part in the search operation - which has cost the taxpayer an estimated £55,000 - after altering his plans without alerting anyone.

It emerged yesterday that the experienced walker booked a room in a £21-a-night guesthouse after becoming separated from his companion on a remote stretch of the Pennine Way in Teesdale, County Durham

Instead of contacting his family or emergency services to tell them he was safe, he tucked into a pub meal and a pint before going to bed for the evening.

When the situation was explained to "oblivious" Mr Newall, of Battersea, south London, he was amazed at the extent of the rescue operation.

At its height it involved 100 rescuers from ten search and rescue teams. An RAF Sea King helicopter from Boulmer, Northumberland, and a police spotter plane from Newcastle were also scrambled to help scour the fells.

Search parties were drafted in from as far afield as Northumberland, North Tyneside, Teesdale and Weardale, Cleveland, Scarborough, Leeming, Swaledale, Penrith and Kirkby Stephen.

The alarm was raised by Mr Newall's walking companion, Bill Miles, when he failed to arrive at the farmhouse accommodation they had pre-booked in Lunedale.

They became separated while walking from near the village of Bowes to Baldersdale on Monday afternoon. The search began at 6pm the same night.

Meanwhile, Mr Newall ended up four miles away in Middleton-in-Teesdale, where he enjoyed a Cumberland sausage and a pint before booking into the nearby Bluebell guesthouse.

The search was finally called off at 10.30am yesterday after Mr Newall walked into a tourist information centre to see if his companion had left any messages.

Centre manager Judith Mashiter and colleague Jane Addison had to run after him after they realised he was the missing walker.

She said: "He just said that he hoped nobody had contacted his wife and it had not been reported in the London papers."

He was contacted by police and taken to Barnard Castle police station, where he was given advice about future walks.

It is estimated the entire search cost the taxpayer at least £55,000, which police said could be a conservative estimate.

Yesterday, Mr Newall, a retired printer and grandfather of four, apologised for sparking the search.

He said: "I never imagined all this fuss would be caused and I am so sorry for what has happened.

"I was flabbergasted when the police arrived. I was just so, so embarrassed and I wish I had contacted someone."

He then headed off on the next phase of his Pennine Way walk, an eight-mile stretch between Middleton-in-Teesdale and Langdon Beck

A spokesman for RAF Boulmer said: "It was a long process for a chap who was safely tucked up for the night in a comfortable guesthouse."

Nigel Dunhill, manager of the Police Northern Area Air Support Unit, said: "We are obviously pleased and relieved he is safe, but he has cost a lot of money to the taxpayer and this would not have happened if he had simply contacted someone."

Speaking from her home in London, Mr Newall's wife Wendy said she was livid.

She said: "He's in for a roasting when he gets home.