Three mountain rescue teams and a search helicopter are involved in looking for a missing climber in Torridon.

Seven search-and-rescue dogs are also taking part. The 49-year-old, described as an experienced ice and rock climber, failed to return after going climbing on Wednesday morning.

His son reported him missing and a search operation involving up to 50 team members was launched. Bad weather prevented the helicopter, from RAF Lossiemouth, taking part fully, and the search was halted at 11pm last night.

The operation resumed at first light today in the area near Achnashellach.

Turbulence in mountain gullies in the high winds caused severe problems for the rescue helicopter, though with an abatement of the storms, it was expected to take part today. Mountain rescue teams from Torridon, Kintail and RAF Kinloss are likely to be joined by colleagues from the RAF Leuchars Mountain Rescue Team (MRT).

In January, we reported how the RAF Kinloss MRT came across an unconscious man while on night exercises on Sgorr Ruadh in Glen Carron, Wester Ross. At the time, a Coastguard spokesman said the chance find probably saved the man’s life. He had suffered head injuries in a fall on the 958m (3,143ft) Munro north-west of Achnashellach.