Marc Sutton was killed while cycling in the French Alps (Picture: Facebook)

A British restaurant owner who was reportedly shot and killed by hunters while mountain-biking in the French Alps has been named.

French ski resort Les Gets confirmed on Monday that the victim was Marc Sutton, who owned a local health food restaurant called Wild Beets Kitchen.

In a statement, Les Gets said the 34-year-old lived in Essert-Romand.

A spokesman said: “Everyone’s thoughts are currently with his family and close friends.

“An official inquiry is under way into the circumstances surrounding it.”

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French prosecutors said Mr Sutton, originally from Caerphilly in South Wales, had been cycling down a mountain in the Montriond area at around 6pm on Saturday when he passed close to a group of hunters.

Philippe Toccanier, prosecutor for the Thonon-Les-Bains region, told the Associated Press that Mr Sutton’s death was believed to be an accident.

Mr Toccanier said he certainly “couldn’t be confused with game, as he had a coloured helmet and a coloured mountain bike”.

A 22-year-old man was taken to hospital suffering from shock and is being investigated on suspicion of aggravated manslaughter, according to AP.

The Foreign Office said: “We are in contact with the local authorities about the death of a British man in France, and we are providing assistance to his family.”