British woman killed by an avalanche at the French Alps

Rescue services reported that a British woman died in an avalanche after she was hiking in the French Alps with two others.

The accident happened on Saturday on the Argentière Glacier, one of Mont Blanc’s biggest glaciers.

Chamonix’s specialist high-mountain rescue unit was alerted at 17:00 GMT by a guide.

To save her, helicopter rescue workers and a doctor were dispatched.

They were unable to save the woman, Colonel Bertrand Host, of the mountain rescue team said.

Police launched an investigation into the murder of the woman, reported to have been 45.

Mont Blanc is the highest mountain in western Europe at 4,810m (nearly 16,000ft). It attracts around 20,000 skiers and hikers every year.

Permafrost, which is permanently frozen ground, has been melting in recent years. This has increased the likelihood of rock falls along the most popular routes.

Two Mont Blanc climbers used two mountain shelters that were closed last August because of rockfalls from the drought.

It is believed that melting snow can trigger avalanches.

The BBC has contacted the Foreign Commonwealth & Development Office for comment on the accident.