An inquiry has been launched after a French teenager apparently recorded her suicide on Periscope.

The 19-year-old allegedly jumped in front of a train in Egly, a southern suburb of Paris, on Tuesday, and died.

A statement from the prosecutor's office said: "Once the first results from an examination of the victim's mobile telephone and of data from the Periscope application are known, investigators will look to establish the motive behind her act".

The statement added they will "widen the investigation" if required.

Periscope is a mobile app that allows users to broadcast live to their followers.

The young woman appeared to send a message to her 1,000 followers before she died which read: "The video I will make now... is not to create a buzz, but to make people react, to open their minds and nothing else".

Twitter, who launched the social media app Periscope last year, declined to comment on individual cases, but did say the video is no longer available to view.

If you are in distress or need some support, the Samaritans are available 24 hours a day on 08457 90 90 90 or visit their website.

For those in the Republic of Ireland, the number is 1850 60 90 90.