A SEARCH for a woman feared to have fallen off a bridge into a North-East river was called off last night after rescue teams found no trace of her.

The woman went missing at Winston Bridge, in County Durham, between Barnard Castle and Darlington, on Tuesday night.

The alarm was raised after a motorist crossing the bridge at about 5.30pm noticed the woman - who appeared to be in a state of distress - talking on a mobile phone.

The man, who was driving from his home in Ovington to Barnard Castle, drove a short distance before deciding to go back and offer assistance. He reversed over the bridge, but although barely a minute had passed he could no longer see the woman.

The driver feared she may have jumped or fallen into the River Tees. He got out of his car and looked over the bridge onto the river bank and into the water.

He called out several times but, when he got no response, he drove to Barnard Castle police station and raised the alarm.

Police officers and dogs and about 15 members of the Teesdale and Weardale Search and Rescue Team searched the river for a kilometre in either direction.

The North-East police aeroplane was also called in to help.

The search was called off at 11pm, but was resumed at noon yesterday when members of the rescue team's canoe section combed the river between Winston and Gainford.

Acting Sergeant Mark Jagodzinski said that nobody could be sure exactly what happened. He said: "Our witness did everything right in raising the alarm so quickly.

"But of course he did not actually see where the lady went.

"It is possible she was out of sight, perhaps on the river bank and for whatever reason chose not to answer his calls.

"We have to act on the worst-case scenario, which is that she fell or jumped into the water. But if she's safe and well, I would urge her to contact police as a matter of urgency."

The woman was described as being in her 20s or 30s, slim, with dark hair, and appeared to be wearing a long dark coat.

Officers said there had been no trace of the woman, and nobody fitting her description had been reported to police.

Search and rescue volunteers called off the search at about 4.30pm yesterday.

Police are expected to decide upon the next course of action this morning.