Police have launched an appeal for information into the identity of a woman whose appearance at Cardigan Bridge on Sunday sparked a major search operation.

Dyfed-Powys Police announced on Tuesday that the search, which involved lifeboats, coastguard, specialist firefighters and a search and rescue helicopter, had been abandoned amid doubts that initial reports of a woman going into the water were correct.

However, officers are keen to trace the woman seen by a number of witnesses on the bridge at 1pm.

A force spokesman said that the descriptions received of the woman “varied”.

“In order to establish the facts, we are especially keen to trace the female that was seen on the bridge at approximately 1pm on Sunday December 4 by a number of witnesses,” the spokesman said.

Descriptions of the woman have included:

A female with curly blonde hair, aged between 40-50 years old

A female in her late teens to early 20s, of small build with dark red frizzy curly shoulder length hair, wearing a green khaki coloured coat and dark blue jeans

A female aged between 15-18 years old with mainly brown shoulder length hair but with red/burgundy streaks, wearing an army green parker coat, possibly with a hood with fur on the collar

A female with pale skin, really ginger curly shoulder length hair, aged around 14-16 years old, around 5’2” tall and wearing a black puffa style jacket.

The spokesman said: “We are appealing to this female to contact police to ensure her welfare, therefore if you believe this was you, or you believe you know this female, please contact us by calling 101.”

Anyone has any further information should contact Dyfed-Powys Police by calling 101.