AN AIR and sea search for a "body" reported to be floating off Dover yesterday was abandoned after some balloons were found.

Dover lifeboat, a Coastguard light aircraft, Coastguard tug and the Dover Harbour patrol launch had been called out to join in the search after a passenger on a cross-Channel ferry reported seeing what appeared to be a body in the water about a mile off Dover.

An extensive search was made of the area from Samphire Hoe to St Margaret's Bay, but only a number of children's balloons, tied together, were found.