The body of a woman was recovered from the English Channel after she fell overboard from the ferry Stena Horizon

Following a request from Solent Coastguard, Weymouth RNLI all-weather lifeboat was launched at 5.18pm on Sunday to join in the search for a woman who had fallen overboard from the roll-on roll-off ferry Stena Horizon in the shipping lanes mid-Channel.

A spokesman for Weymouth Lifeboat said: “Just before the lifeboat arrived on scene 26 miles SSW of Portland Bill, news came in that the body of the woman had been found.

“A rescue boat from the Stena Horizon which had been launched to search for her, found her body and had taken her onto the vessel, which then continued on its journey.

“The lifeboat was released and returned to Weymouth at 7.38pm where it was refuelled and made ready for the next shout.”