A woman has been arrested in Northern Ireland on suspicion of wasting police time after a major search was launched for a baby that was feared to have fallen overboard from a ferry.

The search began after a 37-year-old woman plunged from the Stena Line vessel as it made its way into port from Cairnryan on Wednesday evening.

She was rescued within 15 minutes and taken to the city's Royal Victoria Hospital for treatment, has now been taken into custody for questioning.

A land and sea operation was launched in and around Belfast Lough after it was feared an infant had also fallen into the water, but police later said the woman did not have a baby in her care.

The incident happened in the lough, close to Holywood, Co Down, at around 6.10pm.

Agencies, including the police helicopter, the Irish Coastguard and the RNLI were involved in the search operation which continued long into the night and resumed early this morning.

The woman was taken into custody for questioning after being released from hospital.

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