A female park ranger was killed trying to protect two British tourists after gunmen ambushed their vehicle in Congo’s Virunga National Park.

The woman, named locally as Rachel Katumwa, was gunned down as the two Britons were dragged away and marched through the forest by their attackers, who are now demanding a $200,000 ransom for their safe return,

Ms Katumwa is understood to be the first female ranger to be killed in the park, which has been riven by violence in recent years.

Tributes were paid to the 25-year-old ranger on Saturday as efforts by the Congolese Army continued to find the kidnapped Britons.

Emmanuel de Merode, Virunga National Park director, said Ms Katumwa was one of the Park’s 26 female rangers. He added that she was "committed, showing true bravery in her work".

One of Ms Katumwa's colleagues at Virunga National Park described her as “a devoted conservationist who died in the line of duty’”.