Police in Britain have launched an investigation after a nurse missing for more than a week was found alive in the boot of a car.

Magdeline Makola, originally from South Africa, had not been seen since December 15 when she left the car park of Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, where she works as a nurse.

She was found by police in the boot of a car yesterday and taken to hospital with minor injuries.

"At the moment this inquiry is at its very early stages, and we need to establish the exact circumstances of how Magdeline came to be within the boot of the vehicle," Lothian and Borders Police said in a statement.

"We are appealing for anyone who may have seen Magdeline since she went missing last week to contact us."