Image caption Jonathan Taylor had been teaching at the school for a year

A teacher has died on a school trip after what has been described as a "freak walking accident" in Austria.

It is understood Jonathan Taylor, from Christ the King School in Arnold, Nottinghamshire, tripped and fell at least four metres down a bank.

Austrian police said he hit his head on a stone wall and died instantly.

He had been walking from a pub with others about 03:00 GMT on Sunday when the accident happened. A post-mortem examination is to be held this week.

They were staying at the resort of Matrei, Osttirol, and had completed their first full day of skiing.

Chair of the governors, David Wilson, said 44-year-old Mr Taylor had been an IT teacher at the school for a year.

Principal Carlo Cuomo has flown to Austria, he said.

The group of about 40 pupils, aged 14 to 15, has cut short the skiing trip and is expected to return to Nottinghamshire on Monday.

A Foreign Office spokesman confirmed a British national had died in Austria and that "school children were being looked after".

Mr Taylor leaves a wife, Mr Wilson added.

Pupils from the school paid tribute on Twitter, calling Mr Taylor "a lovely man" and a "highly respected teacher".