At least eight people including a snow plough driver and a ski guide were killed in avalanches in the Alps over the weekend.

Authorities said some died after entering unmarked ski areas despite warnings there was a high risk.

Heavy snow and the school break drew people to the slopes and more than a dozen avalanches were reported in the Tyrol region of western Austria.

The plough driver was found dead in East Tyrol on Sunday after being swept away, a 32-year-old Chinese skier was killed in Oetzal, and a 17-year-old New Zealander was buried by snow in Zillertal.

Authorities in the Tyrol region had put the avalanche risk at four out of five and urged skiers and snowboarders to be cautious.

St Anton, popular with British tourists, also had two deaths when a 29-year-old ski guide and his 33-year-old male client – who were away from prepared slopes – were caught in an avalanche triggered by a snowboarder above them.

Meanwhile, a 31-year-old German woman died in the South Tyrol region of Italy. Her body was found under 2.5m (8ft) of snow. A woman with her was dug out unharmed.

Other snowslide deaths in western Austria included a 55-year-old German man who had been missing since Friday in Kleinwalsertal, and a 62-year-old man in Kaunertal.

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