French Alps avalanche live: At least three dead from group of school pupils and teacher

Five people still missing after group of pupils and teachers hit by avalanche in French Alps

More than 60 people have been mobilised in a search-and-rescue operation (BMTV)

At least three people have died and three more seriously injured after an avalanche in the French Alps. Here is the latest:

• School group from Saint-Exupéry High School, Lyon, hit by avalance in Les Deux Alpes
• Three dead - two schoolchildren, one Ukrainian skier
• One in critical condition, one seriously injured
• Unknown number of skiers may have been buried
• Police say group should not have been on 'closed slope'

The group was skiing in Les Deux Alpes resort when the disaster occured at 4pm local time (3pm).

Five people were still missing two hours later, police told iTele.

Local media said the black slope had been closed to skiers at the time of Wednesday's avalanche.

Four people have already died in the French Alps since the start of January - two Lithuanians, a Spaniard and a Czech.