FRANCE: A father's frantic search for his son who had fallen off a cliff in the Alps ended in a double tragedy.

Police believe Peter Saunders, 48, tumbled to his death shortly after his 12-year-old boy, Charlie, had plunged almost 1000ft off a mountain trail.

Rescuers discovered their bodies lying 150ft apart near Mont Blanc after father and son had gone to explore a "dangerous, deep, snowy" mountain trail between Bossons and Les Houches. Neither was wearing snowshoes.

Mr Saunders, of Buckinghamshire, called the emergency services to report his son had fallen off a cliff. But police could not get a trace on his mobile phone and instead scrambled a helicopter to search the area.

French police captain Patrice Ribes said: "We think the father tried to find his son after he called us and asked for rescue. We believe he fell as he tried to find his son. "

He said the victims had footwear better suited to the summer and added: "You need shoes with spikes at this time of year. In normal shoes, it is difficult to stop once you start slipping.

"That slope is like a giant slide."