A Scottish priest who travelled to Spain to watch Celtic play Barcelona has been found dead in his hotel room.

A Scottish priest who travelled to Spain to watch Celtic play Barcelona has been found dead in his hotel room.

Monsignor David Gemmell, 54, the senior priest at St Mary's Cathedral in Edinburgh, was discovered by a colleague he had travelled with in the Catalonian capital yesterday morning.

News of the senior cleric's death comes as more than 80 Celtic supporters were forced to endure a second night in a Pyrenees ski resort after their bus was caught up in a freak snow storm.

The fans, all members of Glasgow's Saltmarket Celtic Supporters' Club, have been told by the French authorities that all roads from Puymaurens are closed to traffic until further notice.

The group are hoping to leave today but are preparing for the news that they will have to spend a third night in the mountains.

According to the Catholic Church, Mgr Gemmell, who had a history of heart trouble, had complained of feeling unwell on Wednesday night.

He took ill after a meal with fellow priest Father Hugh Purcell and failed to appear for breakfast yesterday. Hotel staff were alerted and Monsignor Gemmell was found dead in his room.

In a statement the Catholic Church said: "The Cardinal and priests of the Archdiocese of St Andrews and Edinburgh were stunned to hear of the sudden death of Right Reverend Monsignor David Gemmell.

"Mgr Gemmell did have a pre-existing history of heart trouble."

A spokesman for Celtic said: "Clearly, we are stunned by the sudden passing of Monsignor Gemmell, a man who was a great supporter of Celtic and someone known to the club.

"The thoughts of everyone at Celtic are with Monsignor Gemmell's relatives, friends and colleagues and congregation at this very difficult time."