SEVERE weather and sub-freezing temperatures are still hindering efforts to trace two Bradford climbers missing on Ben Nevis.

Members of Lochaber Mountain Rescue were hoping to get back on to the mountain today to continue ground searches for Rachel Slater, 24, and Tim Newton, 27, who failed to return from an outing on Britain's highest peak last weekend.

But severe gales and snow showers lasting for up to blasts of four hours have been forecasted from the Mountain Weather Information Service, keeping rescue teams waiting. Conditions are constantly under review, said Police Scotland.

A post on Lochaber Mountain Rescue's Facebook has thanked the climbing community for their support and is carefully analysing all the information being received.

The rescue team has also had offers of help from other climbers to join searches when they resume but has had to turn them down for the time being because of the continuing severe weather and considerable avalanche risk in most of the likely search areas.

Ms Slater's family have flown from their home in Canada to be kept up to date with the search. In a joint statement with Mr Newton's family released on Thursday, they thanked search and rescue teams for their work and said they remain hopeful.

Climbers and walkers travelling to the area this weekend have been asked to bear the search activity in mind and report anything they feel may assist via 101.

Yesterday 54-year-old Adrian Bankart from Derbyshire died in hospital after being caught in an avalanche in the Lochaber mountain range on Creag Meagaidh on Wednesday. A second climber, who was airlifted out with him, remains in a serious but stable condition at hospital in Fort William.