Three young climbers survived a night on Ben Nevis’s Tower Ridge after becoming disoriented.

They were rescued by members of Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team (MRT) after a Royal Navy helicopter located them late yesterday evening, but was unable to land. The inexperienced mountaineers, aged 18, 21 and 23, had alerted rescuers by mobile phone.

The three were finally airlifted off the mountain this morning, cold and wet, but uninjured. Eleven members of the Lochaber team went to their aid, in bad weather.

Lochaber MRT also rescued a 13-year-old girl from Ben Nevis after she injured her ankle. She was treated in Belford Hospital, Fort William.