Hot air balloon flights in the popular Egyptian destination of Luxor have been suspended following a tragedy which claimed 19 lives yesterday. 

Three British visitors, travelling with Thomas Cook, were killed in the incident which saw a hot air balloon catch fire and explode.

The balloon was operated by local firm Skycruise.

Eyewitnesses report it catching fire as it came in to land following a dawn flight over ancient sites close to Luxor.

Britons Yvonne Rennie and Joe Bampton and his Hungarian-born partner Suzanna Gyetvai, who was living in the UK, were among 19 passengers killed.

Egyptian prime minister Hisham Qandil ordered all flights to be suspended while an investigation was carried out.