13 July 2012 Last updated at 04:34 ET
Nine people from four different countries were killed when the avalanche struck
Two British climbers killed in an avalanche in the French Alps have been named by the Foreign Office.
John Taylor and Steve Barber were among nine people killed on Mont Maudit, near Chamonix, on Thursday.
It is believed they were from Poppleton, a village west of York.
A third Briton killed in the avalanche was named on Thursday evening as experienced climber Roger Payne, who had been working as a guide.
Mr Payne, originally from Hammersmith in west London, was a former general secretary of the British Mountaineering Council.
The trio had been part of a 28-person strong group, traversing Mont Maudit before dawn in an attempt to reach the summit of Mont Blanc.
Nine people in total were killed, including two from Spain, three Germans and one Swiss, according to the Prefecture de la Haute-Savoie.
'Strong links'Ian Gillies, the local councillor for Poppleton, said the news of the two men's deaths was "devastating".
"It is a very close-knit community and I believe they [the climbers] had even stronger links with the school. I believe they were raising money but whether it was for the school or not I'm not certain."
Cllr James Alexander, Labour leader of City of York Council, said: "I am deeply saddened by the news that two Poppleton residents lost their lives in Thursday's avalanche in Chamonix.
"I would like to offer their families and friends my condolences and offer any support and assistance we can provide at this difficult time."
The party are believed to have reached 4,000m (13,120ft) when the avalanche struck.
The alarm was sounded at 05:25 local time (04:25 BST) by an injured climber on the route, which is popular with tourists trekking towards nearby Mont Blanc.
Two British climbers killed in an avalanche in the French Alps have been named by the Foreign Office.
John Taylor and Steve Barber were among nine people killed on Mont Maudit, near Chamonix, on Thursday.
It is believed they were from Poppleton, a village west of York.
A third Briton killed in the avalanche was named on Thursday evening as experienced climber Roger Payne, who had been working as a guide.
Mr Payne, originally from Hammersmith in west London, was a former general secretary of the British Mountaineering Council.
The trio had been part of a 28-person strong group, traversing Mont Maudit before dawn in an attempt to reach the summit of Mont Blanc.
Nine people in total were killed, including two from Spain, three Germans and one Swiss, according to the Prefecture de la Haute-Savoie.
'Strong links'Ian Gillies, the local councillor for Poppleton, said the news of the two men's deaths was "devastating".
"It is a very close-knit community and I believe they [the climbers] had even stronger links with the school. I believe they were raising money but whether it was for the school or not I'm not certain."
Cllr James Alexander, Labour leader of City of York Council, said: "I am deeply saddened by the news that two Poppleton residents lost their lives in Thursday's avalanche in Chamonix.
"I would like to offer their families and friends my condolences and offer any support and assistance we can provide at this difficult time."
The party are believed to have reached 4,000m (13,120ft) when the avalanche struck.
The alarm was sounded at 05:25 local time (04:25 BST) by an injured climber on the route, which is popular with tourists trekking towards nearby Mont Blanc.