UPDATED 5pm: The 78-year-old woman who was missing in Tauranga has been located safe and well say Police.

Police would like to thank the public for their assistance.

Earlier:

Police are searching for an elderly woman who went missing from a Tauranga supermarket earlier today.

Mary Ferguson, 78, sometimes goes by the nickname ‘Merna' and suffers from memory loss. She was last seen at Brookfield New World on Bellevue Road.

Police are asking people to keep an eye out for her in the wider Tauranga area, but they are also aware she may have travelled further afield.

'We ask any members of the public across the North Island to keep any eye out for Mary and that anyone who may have seen her contacts police immediately on 111.”

Mary is described as having blonde shoulder length hair which is thinning, and was last seen wearing a black and white top, black trousers and had a scarf around her shoulder. She was also carrying a brown handbag with another scarf wrapped around it.

Anyone who has seen Mary Fergusson or has any information that will help locate her please call 111 immediately.

Mary ‘Merna' Ferguson was last seen at Brookfield New World.