A 41-year old British climber has died in an avalanche in France.

The man has not yet been named but French police have confirmed that he came from Essex.

The accident happened at 1430 BST on Thursday on Les Bossons glacier in the Mont Blanc region.

The dead man was with two other British climbers.

Rescue team

He was learning to ice climb using crampons when several tonnes of ice fell and buried him.

The high mountain rescue team from Chamonix was sent to the scene, 1700m up the glacier.

Another member of the group was slightly injured and was taken to Chamonix hospital.

Next of kin will be told, before police reveal the name of the dead man.