Ben Nevis search for missing climbers to resume

RESCUE teams are expected to resume a search for two experienced climbers missing on Britain's highest mountain.

Search for Rachel Slater and Tim Newton expected to resume today.

Efforts to locate Rachel Slater, 24, and Tim Newton, 27, on Ben Nevis in the Scottish Highlands were suspended on Tuesday due to treacherous weather conditions.

The pair from Bradford in West Yorkshire went climbing over the weekend and were reported overdue on Monday.

It is believed they had been camping behind the Charles Inglis Clark memorial hut on the north side of the mountain.

Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team described search conditions as “very challenging”, with 80mph to 90mph winds.

Seasoned climber Ms Slater is a graduate of Manchester University and is employed as an environmental consultant near Bradford.

Mr Newton, originally from Leicester, also lives in Bradford and studied physics at the universities of Manchester and Leeds, according to his Facebook profile.

Friends and fellow climbers have been posting messages on social media praising the search teams and voicing hope that the couple will be found safe.

One wrote on the UKClimbing forum: “Great, enthusiastic young climbers. Such good role models for the sport.

“I’ve seen them out and about in the past and follow their logbooks cos they climb routes I’d like to. I hope they are found ok. I’m crossing everything and thinking of them and the search teams.”

Anyone who was climbing or walking in the Ben Nevis area over the weekend and saw the couple is being urged to contact police on 101.

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