Alison Knott was on holiday with her husband when she died

A teaching assistant from Lancashire plunged to her death while walking in mountains in Austria, the Foreign Office has confirmed.

Alison Knott, 42, from Thornton, was on holiday in the Tyrol region with her husband, Kevin, 43, when she fell.

Keith Berry, head teacher at Park School in Blackpool, where she worked, said: "Her tragic and untimely death will leave a huge hole."

The Foreign Office said it understood the accident happened on Wednesday.

'Real extrovert'

A spokesman for the Foreign Office added: "We are able to confirm the death of British national, Alison Knott, in the Tyrol province of Austria."

Mrs Knott had worked at the school for 16 years and was planning to become a teacher and "had everything to look forward to", said Mr Berry.

He added: "This is absolutely tragic news and our thoughts are with Kevin, her husband, at this very sad time.

"Alison was a larger-than-life character, the life and soul of the staff room, a real extrovert."

The Foreign Office said it was providing consular assistance to her husband.