Woman saves Briton trapped by Alps avalanche

A woman whose VW Golf was engulfed by an 18ft snow avalanche dug herself out and got help for her three trapped passengers.

Her actions were described today as "incredible" but she was also criticised for driving through the Bachelard Gorge in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence after the road had been closed to traffic because of a high risk of avalanches.

The woman, named by police as Anne, 38, a 36-year-old Englishman called Roy, and two Frenchmen Olivier, 34, and Pierre, 37, were returning from a skiing holiday on Friday.

Police said the car was completely covered by impacted snow but the woman smashed her side window and then dug through the snow for two hours with her hands.

She ran to a hamlet to raise the alarm and rescuers used the tunnel she had created to reach the men.

The local prefect's office said: "When a road is closed you shouldn't go anywhere near it." The entire Alps region is on avalanche alert following the deaths of more than 21 people.