There is still plenty of snow on Ben Nevis, rescuers said. Photo: Richard Webb CC-BY-SA-2.0

Rescuers have issued a ‘wee warning’ that Britain’s highest mountain still has substantial amounts of snow.

Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team was called out to aid two walkers who were injured when they slid long distances while coming down Ben Nevis on Saturday.

The team said both walkers believed they lost consciousness after suffering head injuries and multiple cuts in the incident.

A team spokesperson said: “After a few quiet weeks things kicked off again yesterday with two rescues in one where two people descending Red Burn slipped on the snow and slid very, very long distances – miles in their words.

“Not having ice axes meant that they were trying to stop their slides with their hands which looked as if they had been through a mince grinder.

“Both suffered head injuries and multiple lacerations to hands, heads and other exposed parts of body. Both think that they had been knocked out at some point.”

The Inverness Coastguard Sikorsky S-92 helicopter also joined the rescue operation.

The team spokesperson said: “A wee warning to walkers going up Ben Nevis: there’s still lots of snow and when descending don’t be tempted to bum-slide down the Red Burn as it is a very hard landing at bottom. Stick to the path.”