A 90-year-old care home resident in Germany was forced to make an unusual plea for help after getting locked in a church following an event.

The man had not returned to the care home following an event at the  Luther church in Apolda, Thuringia, on Saturday evening. Police launched a multi-vehicle search operation, but failed to locate the missing pensioner.

At 3.15am on Sunday morning, the church bells suddenly started ringing, alerting police to the strange behaviour. Officers checked the church and heard a male voice calling for help inside.

When the church bells suddenly started ringing at 3:15 a.m. on Sunday night, a police official thought it was strange. The police then checked the church and heard a male voice behind the door. The local priest helped them gain access to the church, where they discovered the missing 90-year-old.

The man had been locked in the church by mistake after the event ended, he told police, but fortunately was able to locate the button for the church bells following a long search, culminating in his novel cry for help.

He was later safely returned to the nursing home.