Search for ferry passenger halted

An air-and-sea-rescue search for a ferry passenger who is believed to be missing overboard was suspended last night after five hours.

The crew of the Condor Rapide ferry, which was on the way from Guernsey to Poole in Dorset, raised the alarm after a passenger was reported missing at 5.35pm.

A helicopter based at Portland Coastguard, lifeboats from Weymouth and Alderney, an aircraft from the Channel Islands and a French Coastguard's helicopter searched the route of the ferry. Portland Coastguard suspended the search at 10pm.