Body of missing climber found

The body of a climber missing in the French Alps has been found.

Teacher Brian Ellis disappeared last Tuesday in the Massif de Belledonne, near Grenoble.

The alarm was raised when he used his mobile phone to leave a message on the answering machine at the hostel where he was staying.

Lieutenant Pierre Pelcener, of the Compagnies Republicaines de Securite en Montaigne, says the 53-year-old had fallen between 20 and 25 metres.

Mr Ellis's body was found in a steep valley of rocks and forest. His wife, Grazyna, had identified his hat, which was found 400 metres above the spot.

The search, which included specialist dogs and helicopters, began when Mr Ellis used his mobile phone to leave a message saying "Help me, I'm stuck" on an answering machine at the hostel in Chamrousse.

The experienced climber was head of physics at Ilfracombe Community College.

Head teacher David Humphries says the school has lost "a great, great teacher".