A tour bus carrying British tourists has careered off a snow-covered mountain pass in Austria leaving three people seriously hurt and others with minor injuries.

The 44 holidaymakers were on a half-day excursion in the East Tyrol province on Sunday when the accident happened near Innervillgraten, 250 miles south-west of Vienna, local police said.

A police spokesman in nearby Lienz, where the injured were taken, said: "The bus drove to Innervillgraten for a sightseeing tour to look at a local church, at which time the weather was not too bad.

"However, during their half-hour visit it snowed heavily and the roads were covered.

"The bus came off the road on its return journey and fell downhill."

The spokesman added: "There were snow chains in the bus but they were not on the wheels. They had wheels for summer."

'Critical condition'

He said the injured were taken by ambulance to the BKH Lienz Hospital apart from one victim, who was in a critical condition and had to be transported by helicopter.

"The holidaymakers were with Shearings Holidays. I think they were all older people between 50 and 60. Those who were not hurt are now back at their hotel in Sillian," he added.

A spokesman for the British tour company said: "We can confirm there has been an accident with one of our tour coaches.

"It was on an excursion in the Dolomites as part of a coach/air tour, number EAATSSX, which left the UK on Wednesday 22 December and was due back on 29 December."

He went on: "There were 44 passengers on the tour and our information to date is seven were taken to hospital and of those there are three who have serious injuries, but they are not thought to be life-threatening."

The other holidaymakers were being looked after at another hotel by two company representatives.

Worried relatives can telephone an information line on 01925 214600.