The popularity of skiing is reaching peak levels, but safety experts are warning of an avalanche of accidents.

The resorts are becoming more crowded

Tour operators say skiers are taking advantage of cheaper package deals and favourable exchange rates in resorts to head for the slopes in record numbers.

More than 250 million people will ski in the Alps this season and the increasingly hi-tech lift systems can each deliver 30 people a minute to the pistes.

Injured skiers are carried out by helicopter

Safety experts are concerned that the huge rise in numbers will lead to a big increase in accidents, especially after the recent high profile deaths of Michael Kennedy and Sonny Bono.

Dr Bruno Durrer, a doctor who flies in Medivac helicopters above the mountains, is getting busier every season. "We see a certain tendancy towards no risk, no fun," he said.

Another Inferno victim

Resorts such as Interlaken in Switzerland open runs like 'The Inferno' to skiers who want to test their speed and the high speed runs claims its casualties.

As a result, safety experst are suggesting there should be better training for skiers, even a Europe wide 'licence to ski'

Ski-ing can cause horrific breaks

Some of the injuries can be horrific. "It's a problem with those skiers ski-ing too fast," said Dr Andreas Brunner from the casualty unit at Interlaken hospital. "It's a problem with those ski-ing not caring for others, and there are also people drinking alcohol on the skiing slopes."

However skiing authorities throughout the Alps are dismissing the idea of a licence to ski, saying it will be almost unenforceable.

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