The death toll following a fire on the Norman Atlantic ferry off Corfu has risen to 10, with the evacuation of all those on board now complete.

Six bodies were found on the stricken Norman Atlantic this morning, while a Greek passenger was already known to have died after falling into the water during the rescue operation. Other bodies were later found in the water.

Italian authorities said the remaining 473 people on board were now safe, following an operation in which rescuers had to battle stormy seas and strong winds.

Among them are four Britons, including showjumper Nick Channing-Williams, who was taken to an Italian hospital for a check-up along with his Greek fiancee Regina Theofilli.

The captain of the ferry was the last to be rescued, more than 36 hours after sending out a distress signal.

The 422 passengers and 56 crew members were forced to spend hours being lashed by driving rain, hail and high winds as they huddled on the top deck while trying to avoid the flames and smoke coming from one of the car decks.

A 62-year-old Greek man was the first of the fatalities to be recovered. He and his wife, who was injured, had fallen into the water as they tried to reach a lifeboat.

Teodora Douli, 56, told Ansa news agency that her husband may have hit his head as he fell. "I tried to save him but I couldn't," she said.

Italy has opened a criminal investigation into the disaster. It will focus on how the fire started and how it was able to spread.

The Italian owner of the ferry has reportedly said the boat was in full working order and had passed technical tests - including on its fire doors - as recently as December 19.

Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi said: "The job that has been done in the past few hours by the women and men from all Italian institutions, and not just Italian ones, is amazing.

"I thank Greek authorities, Albanian authorities, but the work that has been done by our compatriots makes us proud of our flag and our country. Their job has been truly impressive."

Mr Renzi suggested there could be a discrepancy between the number of names on the ship's manifest and the actual number on board, possibly because of illegal migration.

Rescued passengers described scenes of chaos as the fire broke out on the ferry as people slept in their cabins.

Greek truck driver Christos Perlis, 32, said: "Our feet were burning and from the feet up we were soaked.

"Everyone there was trampling on each other to get onto the helicopter.

"First children, then women and then men. But the men, they started hitting us so they could get on first. They didn't take into consideration the women or the children, nothing."

Turkish passenger Saadet Bayhan reinforced the picture of panic, telling Turkey's NTV television: "We experienced the Titanic. The only thing missing was that we didn't sink."

A Turkish man, who gave his name only as Demir, said: "The only thing they said was 'Fire! Fire! Fire!', and we didn't know why there was a fire.on fire."

Overnight helicopters completed 34 rescue sorties in winds of up to 46mph.

Italian coast guard Admiral Giovanni Pettorino said: "Notwithstanding the weather and the darkness, which is another factor, we persisted throughout the entire night."