Rescue helicopters, lifeboats and commercial vessels have been involved in a large-scale search for a man reported missing from a North Sea ferry.

The 22-year-old went missing from the Shetland to Aberdeen overnight ferry at about 6.30am yesterday.

The last confirmed sighting of him on NorthLink's MV Hjaltland was at 4am, meaning the search is covering an extensive area off the north-east of Scotland.

Aberdeen Coastguard has been co-ordinating the operation which involves two lifeboats, an RAF helicopter from Lossiemouth and a coastguard helicopter from Shetland. Around a dozen commercial boats have also been combing the area.

Earlier the ferry, carrying around 160 passengers, retraced its route to help with the search but it has since docked at Aberdeen.

The RAF helicopter from Lossiemouth and the coastguard helicopter from Shetland have been taking turns to search.

The ferry was getting close to Aberdeen when it raised the alarm.

In a statement, the ferry operator said: "NorthLink Ferries can confirm that the Hjaltland arrived back into Aberdeen at 11.45am today. The ferry was turned back to assist the coastguard with a search for a passenger reported missing from the vessel this morning.

"The passenger was last seen on board at approximately 4am and a search involving a number of lifeboats, other vessels and helicopters is concentrating on an area off Peterhead."

In a statement, Police Scotland said: "We are currently working with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and RAF search and rescue to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident."