A man feared dead after he is believed to have fallen overboard from a cross-Channel ferry lived in Whitstable, police have revealed.

The 30-year-old passenger disappeared after going for a cigarette on an outer deck of the P&O service.

A large-scale search was launched when the man's girlfriend raised the alarm early yesterday morning.

Kent Police could not confirm suggestions the couple had an argument shortly before he vanished.

They said they ares treating the incident as a missing person investigation and are satisfied there are no suspicious circumstances. They are not currently looking to speak to anyone else in the connection with the man’s disappearance.

"It is unlikely someone could survive in the water for that amount of time at this time of year..." - Pete Legg, from Dover RNLI

The alarm was raised at just after midnight on Tuesday when the Pride of Kent arrived at Dover and the man's girlfriend reported she could not find him.

A thorough search of the ship was carried out, but there was no trace of him - so the emergency services were alerted.

The man's vehicle had to be removed from the ship before cars and passengers could be loaded for the next trip to Calais.

Dover lifeboat City Of London II was called to the area in the middle of the Channel and a Royal Navy warship also joined the search, while a helicopter was scrambled from RAF Wattisham.

The extensive search - carried out in poor visibility and drizzle - was called off and the lifeboat returned to her station at 6am after almost four hours at sea.

Pete Legg, deputy launching authority at Dover RNLI, said: "It is unlikely someone could survive in the water for that amount of time at this time of year."

A P&O spokesman said the ship was searched and nothing was found. The company said it would not give any more details.