The principle of free mountain rescue has long been a cornerstone of outdoor safety in France.

The French Alps have experienced a series of avalanches this weekend, highlighting the critical risks of off-piste skiing and the necessity of strict safety precautions.

The forecasters from Meteo France Bourg St Maurice have been out on the terrain with members of the CRS from Albertville.

A group of two skiers and a snowboarder triggered a large avalanche in the St Antoine valley at around 2600 meters altitude on a west facing slope.

A group of off piste skiers has been caught by an avalanche on the Aiguille Rouge above the ski resort of les Arcs 2000.

With the first snows of autumn already on the summits and the start of the season just around the corner it is a good time to look back at last year’s avalanche incidents in France.

A short reprieve for the ski resort of l'alpe du Grand Serre ski resort near Grenoble.

The ski station of le Grand Puy near to Gap may not be that well known but the mountains opposite are the site of the German Wings tragedy in 2015. They had been planning to open on the 21st December.

The news had been expected but it was still a shock.

15 climbers have been hit by an avalanche climbing the Mont Blanc du Tacul, part of the route to the summet of Mont Blanc early this morning.