The Mont Blanc tunnel connecting France and Italy has been closed to traffic due to a landslide on the French side, the ATMB company which jointly runs the tunnel said on Saturday.

Experts were on site to decide on how to clear the blockage but the company said the 11.6 km (7 mile) tunnel beneath western Europe's highest mountain was unlikely to be reopened to traffic before the end of the day.

Vehicles were in the meantime being diverted to the Frejus tunnel, it added.