At least 345 people were killed when Muslim pilgrims rushed to complete a symbolic stoning ritual on the last day of the hajj in Mina, Saudia Arabia.

More than 1,000 pilgrims, including two Britons, were injured during a stampede toward a series of three pillars representing the devil, which the faithful pelt with stones to purge themselves of sin.

A Foreign Office spokes-man said the Britons had been slightly injured, but officials were not aware of any British nationals being seriously injured or killed.

It is understood yesterday's accident happened when pieces of luggage fell from a moving bus and pilgrims tripped over them as they rushed towards the al- Jamarat site.

A spokesman for the Muslim Council of Britain said the incident occurred on the final day of the hajj, which attracted about four million pilgrims.

"There are certain acts of worship which have to be carried out within a certain time so it is very difficult to predict how many people were at that particular place at that time," he said.