TWO Lancashire police officers have died after going missing during a mountaineering holiday in the Alps.

The bodies of close friends John Lucas, 40, from Clitheroe, and Chris Baybutt, 46, from Chorley, were found 11,500 feet above the popular resort of Zermatt in south Switzerland.

Today, the officers' families spoke of their devastation -- while police chiefs told of the shock and sadness amongst colleagues in the force.

Sgt Lucas and Sgt Baybutt, who spent much of their careers in Blackburn, were last seen alive when they left their lodgings, called the Rotham Hut, in poor weather to scale a 12,805-ft mountain called Wellenkuppe on July 6.

A search was launched 30 hours later when they did not return.

The bodies of Sgts Lucas and Baybutt, both married with children, were recovered by helicopter just over 1,300 feet from the summit on Monday, after a search hampered by further bad weather.

It is not known why the keen mountaineers died, although their deaths are being treated as an accident.

Sgt Lucas' wife Liz said: "We are completely devastated and are still coming to terms with the news that John has died. It is too early for us to adequately express the grief that we are feeling."

In a statement, Sgt Baybutt's family said: "We have lost an irreplaceable dad, son, brother and husband, who was the best, lots of fun, and will never be forgotten."

Assistant Chief Constable Adrian McAllister, said: "This is a tragic loss of two excellent police officers who will be sadly missed by their colleagues. It was a tremendous shock to learn of this terrible accident and our sincere thoughts are with the friends and relatives of both officers at this difficult time."

Chief Superintendent David Mallaby, Sgt Lucas' boss, added: "John was an extremely likable and conscientious officer with excellent potential.

"This tragic accident has left a large gap in many people's lives, not least John's wife and family, but also for his friends and colleagues in the police.

"We are all still coming to terms with this loss and we extend our sympathy and support to his family and friends."

Wellenkuppe is popular with mountaineers and is classed as a straight-forward climb. It takes around two-and-a-half hours to get to the top in clear weather.

A spokesman for the British Consulate in Geneva said: "Two British nationals were recovered at 3,500 metres (11,500 feet) by search helicopter on July 11.

"Our next step is to help the families have the bodies repatriated to the UK."

A spokesman for the Foreign Office in London said the bodies had not yet been officially identified, but were "almost certain" to be those of Sgts Baybutt and Lucas.

He added: "If the families require us to liaise with international funeral directors then we will do that."

Sgt Lucas had been serving with Lancashire police for 17 years, working in Blackburn as either a tutor for new recruits or an armed response officer, before being appointed sergeant in Clitheroe in September 2003.

Sgt Baybutt had spent the majority of his 10 years' service in Blackburn as a patrol or armed response officer. He had also worked in Darwen from July 1995 to March 1997 and most recently in the Special Branch at the force's Hutton headquarters.