A coastal rescue operation has been called off following an intense search for a missing woman.

Coastguard teams from Lowestoft and Gorleston were paged at 3.10am this morning to join police in the search for 63-year-old Stephanie Parker, following reports she had walked along Hamilton Road in Lowestoft and onto the sea wall in the Ness Point area.

Police dogs tracking Stephanie had led search teams to a point near the shoreline and an extensive rescue operation was launched.

Lowestoft Lifeboat was called at 5.41am to assist and conducted a thorough shoreline search, but nothing was found. The coastguard teams were stood down at around 8am, while the lifeboat also returned to station.

A coastguard spokesman said: 'Lowestoft and Gorleston coastguard rescue teams were out this morning searching around Lowestoft and Southwold seafronts for a missing person.

'However, nothing was found and the search was called off at 8am. Coastguard teams are not actively searching at this time and the matter has been passed back to Suffolk Police.'

Lifeboat coxswain, John Fox, added: 'We were sent to check the rock armour sea defences north of the harbour entrance in the hunt for a missing woman. We were told that a sniffer dog had tracked a scent to the sea wall at the end of Hamilton Road near to the entrance to SLP.

'The Police and Coastguard Rescue teams had checked the inland side of the rocks and we searched along the seaward side.

'After not finding anything we were than asked to conduct a shoreline search along the coastline as far south as Covehithe. With nothing found there, we finally searched around the Hamilton Dock area before being stood down and returning to our mooring.'

Suffolk Police are concerned for the welfare of Ms Parker, who was last seen at her home at 11.30am yesterday morning.

Ms Parker is described as white, 5ft 5in tall, with curly brown hair. She is believed to have been wearing a hi-vis jacket, blue trousers and boots.

Anyone who has seen Ms Parker or who has any information about her whereabouts is asked to contact Suffolk police on 101, quoting CAD 401 of June 19.