Ben Nevis: Search for missing couple suspended amid poor weather conditions

The couple, who have been described as experienced climbers, were reported missing on Monday

Rachel Slater and Tim Newton are missing after failing to return from a weekend climb (Handout)

Rescue teams searching for two young climbers on Ben Nevis have temporarily halted their efforts due to poor weather conditions.

Rachel Slater, 24, and Tim Newton, 27, failed to return from a weekend hike on Ben Nevis in the Scottish Highlands.

Family and friends have said that the couple, from Bradford, were experienced climbers and had been camping behind the Charles Inglis Clark memorial hut on the north side of Ben Nevis when they disappeared. They were reported as missing on Monday.

Poor weather conditions have hampered search efforts, with heavy snow, fog and high winds preventing teams from carrying out detailed searches. A rescue helicopter was diverted from the hut following an avalanche.

Lochaber mountain rescue team said: “Sadly conditions on Ben Nevis are preventing us from going out to look for Rachel and Tim. We managed to get (helicopter) R951 as a small window in the weather allowed an aerial search which unfortunately did not find anything.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Mountain rescue will assess the weather in daylight to see if they can carry on.”

Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the British Isles. Around 100,000 people attempt to ascend it every year.

With additional reporting by PA