The group was attempting to scale Mt Blanc in France

Two British climbers killed in the French Alps have been named by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) as John Taylor and Steve Barber.

The pair, both from York, were killed in an avalanche alongside seven others on Mont Maudit near Chamonix on Thursday.

A third Brit killed on the mountain was named earlier as experienced climber Robert Payne.

Payne, from London, was working as a guide and was a former general secretary of the British Mountaineering Council.

The climbers had been part of a 28-person strong group traversing Mont Maudit.

They had been en route to climb Mt Blanc.