The body of an 82-year-old man who went missing on his way to vote last week was recovered from a lake in Borehamwood on Friday after an extensive police search.

Phillip James, known as Jim, is believed to have left his home in Gateshead Road, Borehamwood, early on Thursday morning to cast his vote in the local election but never made it to his nearest polling station, St Michael's Church.

Family believe he arrived too early and went for a walk around the lake in Aberford Park, Brook Road, where he suffered a massive stroke and fell in.

Mr James was last seen alive on Wednesday evening and police were called by concerned family members on Thursday night after he failed to respond to phone calls.

Police launched a massive search and rescue operation using helicopters and sniffer dogs and conducted house to house enquiries. A body was found in the lake by a police officer at 4pm on Friday and later recovered by the fire service's water recovery unit.

The body was taken to Watford General Hospital and identified as Mr James.

His wife, Mary James, 81, had been on an annual holiday to Wales when she heard her husband was missing. Speaking from her home in Borehamwood this week, she said: "I think he must have gone round to vote early, he was an early bird having been a milkman for many years, the polling station must have been shut and he's gone for a walk around the brook."

Mr James is survived by his wife, a brother, Des, who lives in Shenley Road, Borehamwood, a sister, three children and six grandchildren.

Daughter Jan Humphreys who lives in Bedfordshire, said: "He used to pride himself on being the first person to vote. He was a staunch socialist and a Labour voter all his life.

"But he never made it to the polling station, his vote wasn't registered."

Mr James was originally from Cornwall but had lived in Borehamwood since 1953 where he worked as a milkman for Theobald Farm Dairy.

He served in the Navy during World War II and was part of the D-Day plus one landings in Normandy where he was wounded and feared dead. In fact, he was in a coma, and eventually returned to active service.

He was a keen gardener, swimmer and bowler and was well-known in the local area.

Mrs Humphreys said: "He was quite a character my dad, the type of character he was, he was never going to go quietly."

Mrs James said: "He used to read the Borehamwood Post' from front to back, it took him hours but he didn't miss a thing. He would have thought it was great he made the paper."

The family wished to thank the police for their support and in particular PC Ross Clark who stayed with the family during the search.

Mr James' funeral will be held at West Herts Crematorium in Garston on Wednesday.