Two people have died and at least nine others injured after a tourist train was hit by a giant boulder in France.

The train, which had been carrying 24 passengers, was travelling from Nice to Digne-les-Bains, when it derailed close to Annot on Saturday.

Dignes-les-Bain, the local capital of the department of Alpes de Haute Provence, is located 50 miles north-west of Nice.

The rescue operation was made more difficult due to snow and the remote location of the stricken train, according to local authorities.