Skiers stuck in many resorts with heavy snow

Heavy snow has cut off some Alpine ski resorts as stormy weather continues to batter parts of Europe.

Cervinia, in the Aosta Valley in Italy, is half-buried under 2 metres of fresh snow and officials said about 10,000 tourists are currently stuck there.

Ski lifts are out of action in Cervinia because the pistes are considered too dangerous, given the deep snow and avalanche risk.

A similar emergency has gripped Adelboden in Switzerland with reports of many thousands stranded. Officials are unsure if the World Cup ski race can go ahead this weekend in Adelboden.

Swiss army soldiers have been airlifted to Adelboden to help deal with the emergency and ensure people are not trapped.

In a number of Austrian resorts, including the Tyrol region, the avalanche risk is “high” and many roads are blocked.

And in the French Alps, ski pistes have been closed at Val d’isère – one of the biggest resorts – and Chamonix has most of its ski lifts.