A Skipton man who was a member of a Dales mountain rescue team has died on a Scottish peak.

The body of Terry Trueman, a 48-year-old lecturer of Princes Crescent, Skipton, was found near Torridon in Western Ross.

Mr Trueman, who had been member of the Grassington-based Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association for 20 years, fell to his death after setting out alone to climb 3,456ft high Mount Liathach.

His wife, Myfanwy, who was in Torridon with him alerted the authorities when he failed to return at the appointed time.

A police spokesman said: "The body was discovered about 850 metres up the mountain side and it appears he had fallen. This mountain is a very considerable undertaking in winter. It is very steep sided and ridged. There were about four inches of snow and visi-bility was poor.

Harry Long, of Silsden, a controller for the Fell Rescue Association, said he was shocked and saddened by the news.

"After the length of time he was lost and in those conditions, there was a fear at the back of my mind that something had befallen him and prevented him getting back. It's a very sad blow to his family and friends."

Mr Long said Mr Trueman was a very skilled member of the fell rescue team and had been involved in a number of rescues, both underground and on the surface.

Last year he was involved in the search for two Leeds schoolgirls, who were swept away in Stainforth beck near Settle.

He worked as a leisure and sport studies course leader at the Leeds Metropolitan University.