French fire brigade members work around the ruins of a tour bus which crashed and burned on the road from l'Alpe d'Huez in the French Alps (Reuters)
French fire brigade members work around the ruins of a tour bus which crashed and burned on the road from l'Alpe d'Huez in the French Alps (Reuters)

At least one Briton has died and many were injured after a coach crashed and burst into flames in the French Alps

The coach carrying 51 British ski workers crashed in the Alpe d'Huez resort. The coach was hired by Brighton company Skibound and the people on board were thought to be seasonal skiing staff returning to the UK.

Reports suggest the coach careered off a steep mountain road and crashed after its brakes failed. It is not known if the person who died was a passenger or the driver of the coach.

A further 17 people are thought to have been injured in the crash, some are in a serious condition.

A Grenoble police spokesman said: "There is not much information at the moment but on the face of it, at least one Briton has died. We do not know how the crash happened."

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are aware of a tragic incident involving British people in Isère, in the southern region of France. We are in touch with the local authorities and providing consular assistance."

The coach is thought to have burst into flames following the crash, at one point trapping some people inside the vehicle, according the French media.

British travel organisation Abta said: "The 51 passengers travelling from Alpe d'Huez had been on their way home after finishing their ski season working for Skibound in various ski resorts across the French Alps. Also on board the coach were two drivers from the coach company.

"We have been informed that one person has been taken by air ambulance to the local hospital.

"A special assistance team from Skibound is in place to provide support to those affected by the incident."

Skibound added that all passengers have been accounted for, with one taken by air ambulance to the local hospital.

It added: "A special assistance team from Skibound is in place to provide support to those affected by the incident.

"Our thoughts are with those who have been involved in the accident and their relatives. The names of any injured parties will not be released until all next of kin have been notified."