Solved... case of Ben Nevis piano pushers

THE true story of how a piano found its way up Britain's highest mountain has finally been revealed.

Clean-up volunteers discovered the musical instrument near the 4,408ft summit of Ben Nevis at the weekend and appealed for help in solving the mystery over the find.

The Scotsman reported that Kenny Campbell, a woodcutter from Bonar Bridge in the Highlands, believed he may have carried it up the mountain for a cancer charity in 1971.

But a "best before" date on a biscuit wrapper found near the piano told a different story.

The John Muir Conservation Trust, who launched the appeal, said yesterday the instrument was carried by a group of removal men from Dundee in 1986, who were hoping to raise money for charity.

Mike Clark and his friends celebrated their achievement 20 years ago with a bottle of whisky and a packet of McVities biscuits.

Nigel Hawkins, director of the trust, said: "We are delighted to have solved the mystery of the piano on Ben Nevis. An organ was carried up by Kenneth Campbell in 1971 but we can say definitely that it was not an organ that was found, as there was an iron frame with metal strings.

"The biscuit wrapper which said 'Best before 13 December, 1986', which we found in the cairn gives further proof that this was the piano Mike and his friends took up the mountain."