Tributes have been paid to a coach driver from the North East who died in a crash in the French Alps. The Classic Coaches vehicle was carrying ski resort staff back to the UK from Alpe d'Huez, with Newcastle being its final destination.
British ski company Skibound has confirmed that a coach driver from the North East has died in a crash in the French Alps.
The vehicle was carrying ski resort staff back to the UK from Alpe d'Huez when it crashed 65km from Grenoble at approximately 1:45pm local time.
The driver was one of two North East employees from the bus company Arriva, who were transporting 52 people back to the UK, with Newcastle as their final destination.
The ski company said 29 passengers have been taken to hospitals in the area, four of which are being treated for more serious injuries. The further 23 passengers have escaped serious injury and are now with police and councillors at a local hotel.
In a statement Skibound said:
"I would personally like to thank the local community for their amazing donations of food, toiletries and clothing. "
Owners John and Irene Hays say there is ''light at the end of the tunnel'', after the pandemic forced them to close 650 UK stores.
There has been resistance to calls to dismantle memorials to the explorer.