HOPES of finding two missing Bradford climbers alive on Ben Nevis appear to be fading.

And the head of the rescue team searching for Rachel Slater, 24, and Tim Newton, 27, fears it could be spring before their bodies are found on Britain's highest mountain.

Heavy overnight snow caused the land search to be called off today and John Stevenson, leader of Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team (MRT), said his team will have to wait until the weekend for it to resume.

"It could be the spring before something is found," said Mr Stevenson.

"We just don't know where they have gone. It depends on the weather and the conditions. We are waiting on a weather window.

“We will then go out and start searching as best we can.

"We are getting lots of squally snow showers at the moment.

"We have had lots of heavy snowfall which is holding up everything at the moment.

"It will be the weekend before we can get a crew out to look again."

The couple  were reported missing on Monday afternoon after they failed to return from an expedition on Sunday.

Searches by Lochaber MRT began that evening.

Snowfall is expected to continue on Ben Nevis throughout today, with temperatures set to plunge to -7C.

A Police Scotland, Highland and Islands Division spokesman said: "Today there is no planned land search due to the extremely unstable conditions in the area.

"That is unlikely to change. There was fairly substantial snowfall over night."

This afternoon, in a statement, the couple's families urged anyone who might have seen them climbing at the weekend to come forward. 

“We are extremely grateful to members of the emergency services and search and rescue personnel who are searching for Rachel and Tim," the statement said.

"The overwhelming response from members of the public and the climbing community has greatly assisted the search effort and we appreciate all the support and words of encouragement.

“As a family we urge anyone who was in the Ben Nevis area last weekend and may have seen or spoken to Rachel and Tim at any time to get in touch.

"We think Rachel was climbing in a turquoise jacket and purple helmet. Tim may have been wearing a red jacket, similar to the photo in circulation.

"We'd also like to appeal to anyone planning to climb or hike in the area this weekend to be aware of the ongoing search activity and to report anything they feel may be relevant - even if it appears insignificant - to police on 101.”

“As the search continues we remain hopeful Rachel and Tim will be found and reunited with their families and friends.”

Physical ground searches of Ben Nevis for Ms Slater and Mr Newton remain suspended but an aerial sweep involving a Coastguard helicopter with mountain rescue team members on board was carried out on Thursday afternoon.

Lochaber MRT said it would be back out on foot "as soon as conditions allow to carry out the search safely".