The Frontera was brought down from Snowdon on a flatbed railway wagon

The rogue pickup that has been an unwelcome adornment to Wales’s highest mountain for the last few days has been removed.

The Vauxhall Frontera 4×4 was driven by 39-year-old freelance vehicle recovery man Craig Williams to within 400m of the summit of Snowdon.

The pick-up truck was loaded on to a railway wagon on the Snowdon Mountain Railway, next to where it had been abandoned, in an operation lasting three hours.

Severe weather conditions on the 1,085m (3,560ft) mountain delayed the salvage operation.

The Snowdonia National Park Authority and railway managers had weighed up the options for removing the Frontera, including driving it down, dismantling it or airlifting the vehicle out by helicopter.

A spokesman for the authority said: “The Snowdonia National Park Authority is pleased that the vehicle driven up Snowdon at the weekend has now arrived safely at the bottom of the mountain.

“They are satisfied that the dangers and environmental implications associated with this act have been clearly expressed over the last few days.

“The vehicle is currently under the care of the Snowdon Mountain Railway Company and the matter continues to be in the hands of the police.”

Mr Williams, of Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, has been charged by North Wales Police with driving a vehicle on common land or moorland or land not part of a road.

He was bailed to appear at Caernarfon Magistrates Court on 16 September.