Search suspended for man missing after Aonach Mor avalanche

Image caption, Andrew Vine was last seen on Friday afternoon

Bad weather has affected the search for a climber missing following an avalanche in the Highlands.

Andrew Vine, 41 and from the Manchester area, was last seen on the west face of Aonach Mor near Fort William at about 13:00 on Friday.

Lochaber, Glencoe and Cairngorm mountain rescue teams were involved in extensive searches over the weekend.

Two coastguard helicopters from Inverness and Stornoway also assisted in the searches.

The effort has been suspended due to weather conditions. The avalanche hazard in the Lochaber area is also "considerable".

Mr Vine's climbing partner was seriously injured in the avalanche but they were able to reach the Nevis Range snowsports centre and raise the alarm.

A description issued by police said Mr Vine is white, 5'11" in height, with ginger or brown hair and beard.

He was wearing a red jacket, yellow La Sportiva boots and black trousers. He was carrying a yellow rucksack.

The avalanche hazard in Scotland's mountains has been heightened by snowfalls and high winds since about the start of February.

The Scottish Avalanche Information Service has recorded 140 avalanches so far this season, 121 of the slides in the past month. There were 124 for the whole of last season.