Five Britons are missing after an avalanche in the French Alps' Mont Blanc massif, which has killed six people and injured none more.

Two German's, two Swiss and two Spanish nationals were reported dead, no names have been released yet .And five Britons and two Spaniards are reported missing.

Emergency services were dispatched to the scene after one of nine people injured sounded the alert from the mountain they were climbing. It was believed two groups of the experienced climbers were roped together when the avalanche struck.

A spokesman said the cause of the avalanche could have been a large chunk of ice which broke away from the mountainside, causing an avalanche of ice and rocks.

The Mont Maudit, which in French means "Cursed Mountain", is the third-highest peak in the Mont Blanc massif range.

Written and Presented by Ann Salter