Two Britons in critical condition after hit and run in French Alps ski resort

Two young Britons are in a critical condition after being apparently the victims of a hit and run incident in the French Alps, local media is reporting.

Police have issued a call for witnesses.

The pair, a woman and man aged 25 and 30, were hit shortly after 9pm on Wednesday night near a bus stop at the ski resort of La Clusaz in the Haute-Savoie region. French media said they were thought to be tourists - probably on a ski holiday.

They have not been named. British consular officials have been informed of the incident. The motorist reportedly fled the scene and no witnesses have come forward. The vehicle involved has not been found.

According to local newspaper Le Dauphiné Libéré, a passing motorist found the seriously injured pair on Wednesday night by the road side in a relatively isolated spot near a horse riding centre. The driver tried to give first aid to the pair and alerted emergency services.

Debris was found up to 30 metres from the stop, suggesting that they were the victim of a "brutal collision", according to LCI, the TV news channel.

Detectives believe the motorist was driving at breakneck speed in the direction of the ski resort when the collision occurred.

Critically injured, the pair were evacuated to nearby Annecy hospital. The woman was later transferred to Grenoble hospital.

Despite their life-threatening injuries, the pair were said to be in a "stable condition" on Thursday, according to Le Dauphiné.

The local gendarmerie has launched an investigation, which is being handled by the crime squad in Annecy. Forensic police were at the accident site.

Gendarmes have issued a call for witnesses to come forward. They are reportedly trying to find out what the two victims were doing by the roadside and where they were staying.

Close to Lake Annecy and within an easy hour’s drive of Geneva airport, La Clusaz has well-groomed intermediate and advanced slopes often overlooked by skiers and snowboarders driving past on their way towards the Trois Vallées and other famous resorts of the Tarentaise.

As well as making La Clusaz an ideal spot for the weekend, airport convenience explains why many Britons have bought chalets and apartments there.

La Clusaz and smaller Manigod share 132km of ski runs.