French authorities are becoming increasingly worried by the growing number of accidents on the country's ski slopes caused by the dangerous and selfish behaviour of people taking part in winter sports.

The number of accidents rose by 17% last year and some local authorities are bringing in legislation to enforce rules laid down by the country's ski federation.

At this time of year France's ski stations are crowded. During the season an estimated nine million people, 85% of them French, will head for the snow.

But not only are the slopes busy, so are local clinics and hospitals as they treat tens of thousands of injured skiers.

An increasing number are there because of their own dangerous behaviour or that of others.

Killer game

The New Year was only minutes old when a new and dangerous game claimed its first life of 1999.

Three young men pulled the inflated padding off a pylon belonging to a ski-lift and used it as a sledge.

It hit trees and one of those on it died. The two other young men were badly hurt.

New forms of winter sports such as snow-boarding, and the sheer selfishness of some skiers, have also contributed to the rise in the number of accidents.

In a much-publicised case last year the prosecution demanded a prison term for a youth responsible for the death of a 10-year-old boy on the ski slopes. He escaped with a suspended sentence.

A number of local authorities are making the rules of conduct laid down by the French Ski Federation legally enforceable.