One dead, others injured following coach crash in France

Pupils and teachers from Worcestershire were involved in a coach crash in France in the early hours of Sunday morning.  The passengers on board were returning from a skiing trip in the Aosta Valley when the coach came off the road and hit a verge.  There were 48 people on the bus at the time including members of staff from Interski, who had chartered the coach, and two bus drivers.

One man died as a result of the accident and 27 are injured, four seriously.  A second coach which followed behind informed the emergency services and helped with evacuation of passengers and rescue efforts.

The injured passengers were taken to hospitals in Rheims and Charlon.  27 of them were admitted into hospital and others were taken to a community centre where the French Red Cross helped assist passengers caught up in the accident.

The Foreign Office are helping to get passengers home and local news reports said that one of the coaches had arrived back in the UK.

In a statement, Interski said they were saddened and distressed to report the death of a party leader.

The man has been named as Peter Rippington.  A statement issued by the family through the Foreign office said:

"We ask that our privacy is respected and that we are left to grieve with our friends and family."

"We, as a family, are devastated at the tragic loss of Peter, a wonderful husband, father, son, brother, son-in-law, brother-in-law, uncle, friend and teacher.

“We are still extremely concerned about the health of his wife, Sharon, who was injured and is still recovering in hospital in France. Sharon is accompanied by her daughter Amy, who escaped the incident with minor injuries."

“Until they are safely home we ask that our privacy is respected and that we are left to grieve with our friends and family.”

Four French troops killed in Afghanistan

Four French soldiers died in Afghanistan after a member of the Afghan National Army opened fire at an operational base in Kapisa, it was reported on Friday  There are also reports of others being injured.

The NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen issued a statement sending his condolences to the families of those who died.

Incidents like this are rare and as the statement from the NATO Secretary General makes clear, 130,00 International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) troops work with 300,000 Afghan troops "And that take a lot of trust among a lot of soldiers".

A statement from the French Prime Minister said:

"Our soldiers have fallen, were injured in the line of duty. This duty is borrowing dignity and nobility. This duty is in the image of these brave men who chose the profession of arms, their bravery and professionalism is great is recognized. And that's why their opponents use methods and as low as vile. This duty is a reflection of their mission to secure a country that was ravaged by years of war and which was exploited by fanatics who were driven from power, but not giving up violence."

"I want to bow to our soldiers deserve all the support of the French, I think of their families, I think of friends, I think of their brothers in arms. I want to send on behalf of the Government a message of solidarity and affection and I ask you to meet with me a minute of silence in their honor."

Some reports say that France may consider pulling its troops out of Afghanistan following the incident but this has not been confirmed.