At least four people have been killed and several others feared to have been swept away by an avalanche near a French ski resort.

Rescuers were searching for anyone trapped beneath the 100m wide snowslide which hit an off-piste slope known as Toviere, near the ski resort of Tignes.

Staff at the resort saw the snow barrel down the mountain at 9.35am on Monday and raised the alarm.

Two helicopters, diggers and sniffer dogs were helping around 100 rescuers with shovels, including volunteers, search for survivors.

Image: The avalanche hit a party of nine - eight holidaymakers and a guide. Pic: Mathieu Cavada

Edge Magazine's Vanessa Hackman, who is in Tignes, told Sky News a "massive rescue mission" was under way.


"It is a pretty sombre day in Tignes," she said.

A snowboarding party were on the slopes below the avalanche, which started at about 2,100m.

It was reportedly set off by another group of skiers higher up on the slopes.

Image: Around 100 rescuers are searching for survivors. Pic: Edge Magazine

Two skiers were initially pulled out alive but died shortly after being rescued, said police.

It was initially thought more had been buried, but authorities said later that the victims names had been entered into a database twice.

The avalanche hit the resort - popular with British skiers - at a busy time, with families flocking to the area during the half-term holidays.

The nationalities of those involved is not yet known.

Image: The avalanche struck an off-piste slope near the French ski resort of Tignes

Tignes, along with neighbouring Val d'Isere, is part of Espace Killy, one of the largest ski areas in the world.

Around four inches of snow fell on the slopes of the resort last week and more is forecast this week.

The risk of an avalanche had been at three on a scale of five, with a strong wind and warmer temperatures increasing the danger, according to experts.