The driver killed in a coach crash in the French Alps has been named as North East man Maurice Wrightson.
The 64-year-old, who was working for Stanley-based Classic Coaches, was one of two North East employees from the bus company Arriva, who were transporting 52 people back to the UK.
The British ambassador to France has visited the hospital where 29 passengers hurt in the Alps coach crash have been taken.
Peter Ricketts, accompanied by the French transport minister and the UK Consular team, has said "they look well" and are being taken very good care of.
Brighton-based company Skibound have confirmed that the bus which crashed in the French Alps was bound for Newcastle as its final destination.
The bus company Arriva have confirmed that the driver of the bus involved in a crash in the French Alps was from the North East.
– TGM Group"Classic is a north-east based company and the coach was being driven by a north-east based driver."
French fire fighters are continuing to clear the debris of a coach that crashed and burned on the road from Alpe d'Huez in the French Alps.
Brighton company Skibound said it hired the coach, and that 51 people were on board.
The company is sending out their own health and safety team.
According to local media the coach crashed as it travelled down a steep mountain road, which featured 21 hairpin bends.
According to Skibound all of the passengers were finished for the season and were working in different resorts across the area.
One Briton has been killed after a coach carrying ski resort staff crashed in the French Alps today.
French police said that more than 50 people from the UK were being driven from the resort of Alpe d'Huez when the coach left the road, reportedly bursting into flames.
The vehicle was owned by Classic Coaches - who are based in Annfield Plain.
Classic Coaches are owned by transport group TGM, who released the following statement:
We are clearly shocked by this accident and our thoughts are with the family and friends of those involved. We have had unconfirmed reports from the scene of the incident however are awaiting official confirmation relating to those involved.
It is too early to say what caused the accident, however, we have launched a full investigation and are working closely with the local authorities. Our own safety specialist is also en route to the scene to support the investigation.
– Heath Williams, managing director of TGMWe are offering our full support to the families of our drivers and to all those passengers who were involved in this tragic incident.
At least one British holiday maker has died in a coach crash in the French Alps, police said. A further two tourists are thought to have died in the cash, which happened around 3pm local time in the Alpe d'Huez resort. A Grenoble police spokesperson 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.
Three people have died and four have been seriously injured following a crash near the Alpe d'Huez resort in Isère, in the French Alps, Le Parisien reports.
Lille are understood to have rejected a £4 million bid from Newcastle United for France international Mathieu Debuchy.
The 26-year-old has seven caps for his country, and played during England's 1-1 draw with France at Euro 2012.
Speaking to French website 20 Minutes, Lille boss Rudy Garcia said: "I believe Newcastle have faxed an offer of £4 million. But they have the wrong player."
Garcia added: "He is torn between staying with us and playing in the Champions League in our new stadium or going elsewhere.
"If he does go and it is a sporting progression, then we will be happy to see him evolve. But we have not planned to replace him."
The Magpies signed Debuchy's international team mate Yohan Cabaye from Lille in June 2011.