Three vessels and an RAF Sea King helicopter had been involved in an eight-hour operation to look for the woman who fell 60ft into the water.

The unnamed woman, from Gosforth, in Newcastle, had been travelling on the DFDS-operated ferry Queen of Scandinavia, to Holland.

The vessel was was involved in the search but has now carried on its journey from North Shields, Tyneside, to Ijmuden.

The rescue helicopter has completed its searches as well as the other vessels on the scene

Lucia Pacini, Yarmouth coastguards

The woman, aged 40, fell into the sea about 55 miles north east of Cromer, Norfolk,

She was reported overboard by a male companion who seen her fall at 0225 BST on Wednesday.

Coastguards were initially hopeful the woman could survive for several hours in water temperatures of 17C (63F), but the search was called off about 1000 BST.

A marker buoy, which moves with the tides and currents, was thrown into the sea near where the woman fell but it had not helped to locate her.

No trace

Yarmouth coastguard watch assistant Lucia Pacini: "The search has been called off.

"The rescue helicopter has completed its searches as well as the other vessels on the scene.

"We know they were searching in the right area because they saw the marker buoy but unfortunately nothing has been found."

A DFDS spokeswoman said it was looking after the 800 passengers on board and would delay its return from Holland on Wednesday evening so they would not lose much of their time on the continent.

"The Queen of Scandinavia is now on her way into Holland after she stayed to help with the search.

"It will arrive this afternoon and should have got in at 0930 BST, so she will be leaving later this evening."

Northumbria Police, is liaising with the woman's family.

In a statement, it said as the incident may have happened in international waters they were checking what they might have to do with regards an investigation.