Fire fighters die in Chinese forest fire

Reports from China say eighteen firefighters and their guide have died while battling a forest fire in Sichuan province.

A sudden change in wind direction led to the group becoming trapped early on Tuesday.

The fire in Liangshan prefecture has now spread across 1,000 hectares.

More than 2,000 firefighters and rescue workers have been sent to the area and 1,200 people have been evacuated.

The dead firefighters were among a group of 22 including one farm worker acting as their guide who went missing.

Three survivors have been found and were taken to hospital.