THE family of a Malvern couple initially feared missing following a serious of snow storms at a popular Himalayan trekking route have confirmed they are safe.

Husband and wife, Katie Francis and Duncan Hedges, from Malvern, contacted their families after initially being feared missing in the Nepalese natural disaster.

The Telegraph reported that Katie's daughter Kashka wrote on Facebook: "My mum and her husband's names, Katie Francis and Duncan Hedges (from UK) have been mentioned in the news and papers as missing but we have had contact with them and they are safe.

"They are now in Pokhara. They decided to play safe and didn't make it to Annapurna Base Camp and were stuck at Machapuchre Base Camp where they helped treat various nationalities who stumbled into their lodge who were suffering with severe hypothermia.

"Lots of love and hope to those who have lost loved ones and to those who are still missing xx"

A section of the trekking route have been closed after rescuers dealing with the aftermath of snow storms, which have killed 38 hikers, had to bring new climbers to safety.

The dead from the blizzards and avalanches that hit the upper section of the Annapurna Circuit in northern Nepal included foreign trekkers, local guides and villagers.