A British mountain biker has died in a fall in the French Alps. Retired university lecturer Richard Castle, 60, from Brighton, was in the Alps with the Brighton Explorers Club, but had set off alone to ride the Balcon Sud trail between Chamonix and Argentiere.

The details of the accident are unclear, but according to the local Mountain Rescue Mr Castle’s bike was spotted lodged in a tree below the trail by a climber, and his body subsequently found below. It’s not known what caused him to fall, but the singletrack above Chamonix is exposed in places and the simplest of crashes could easily have a rider over the edge.

Dr John Taylor, head of the school of computing, mathematical and information sciences at Brighton University, where Mr Castle worked until retiring last year, said, “We at the university are deeply saddened and our hearts go out to his family. He was an exceptionally gifted and inspiring teacher and was well respected by his former colleagues and students alike.”