9 July 2010 Last updated at 17:49 ET

Hunt for woman who may have fallen off ferry stood down

A major air and sea search for a missing woman who rescuers thought might have fallen off a ferry off the Isle of Wight has been called off.

Solent Coastguard was alerted at 1840 BST amid fears the woman who had been on board the Red Eagle, operated by Red Funnel Ferries, had fallen overboard.

The search was called off at 2100 BST the Coastguard confirmed.

A spokesman said: "We assume that she could have gone ashore in a vehicle."

He added: "There was no evidence that she went over the side but there is no evidence that she did not.

"No-one actually saw her go over the side but we have to search because there is the assumption that she could have."