Missing ferry woman search 'off'

A major air and sea search for a woman missing from an Isle of Wight ferry during bad weather has been called off.

The woman was last seen talking to a man using a gaming machine shortly before the Red Funnel ferry docked in Southampton from Cowes at 0830 GMT.

A helicopter and lifeboats had "swamped the area," a Solent Coastguard spokeswoman said, but found nothing.

Police are investigating the possibility she may have left the boat by car and urged her to come forward.

Severe gales are hitting southern parts of England as a winter storm unleashes strong winds along the south coast.

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"Because she was last seen about 10 minutes before docking, the area we needed to search was very specific," the Solent Coastguard spokeswoman said.

"We swamped it with boats and aircraft but didn't find anything.

"The search has been stood down."

Police have described the woman as white, in her late 40s, about 5ft 5in and of medium build.

She was wearing a cream bobbled hat, a thick woollen thigh-length green and blue checked coat and dark trousers, and had a brown handbag.

Police are urging the woman to contact them and are also keen to hear from the man seen talking to her.