A woman from Bristol is feared dead after going missing from a ferry between Ireland and Wales.

A fellow passenger raised the alarm after apparently seeing someone fall overboard from the Stena Galloway ferry.

An extensive overnight search has been called off.

The alarm was raised just after 2330 BST on Sunday, as the ferry sailed from Rosslare in Ireland to Fishguard.

It was 25 miles north west of Fishguard at the time.

The Stena Line ferry immediately stopped and put a fast rescue craft into the water to begin searching.

Two lifeboats

Milford Haven Coastguard scrambled an RAF rescue helicopter and a further helicopter with infrared equipment was sent from the Irish Coastguard in Dublin.

Two lifeboats from Fishguard and Rosslare were also launched.

The ferry remained in position to act as co-ordinator while a grid search was carried out.

The missing woman was believed to be 46-years-old.

Her last known address was in the Bristol area.

The Pembrokeshire coroner has been informed.