A body has been found in the hunt for two British hikers and former Teddington School pupils who went missing in the Italian Dolomite mountains, rescuers have today confirmed.

Aziz Ziriat, 36, and his friend Samuel Harris, 35, both from London, were hiking in the Dolomites in northern Italy but they have not been heard from since 2.20pm on New Year's Day.

Their family and friends became concerned when the two explorers missed their flights back to Britain on 6 January and alerted Italian authorities, who launched an urgent search, which has been hampered by heavy snow.

Italy's alpine rescue service resumed a helicopter search on Wednesday morning and tragically confirmed a body was found.

Italy's CNSAS (The National Alpine Cliff and Cave Rescue Corps) revealed that ground teams found a body in the area of Passo di Conca "sadly deceased, buried under the snow". 

They confirmed a search for the second mountaineer would continue and that the families of both men had been informed. 

Mr Ziriat, who works for Crystal Palace's Palace for Life foundation, and Mr Harris' last known location is believed to have been close to a hut called Casina Dosson, which is near the town Tione Di Trento, near Riva del Garda, on Lake Garda.

The area has limited phone signal, and it's understood their phone batteries were running out.

Both men attended Teddington School on Broom Road, and it is understood Sam attended Collis School, also in Teddington.