The families of Rachel Slater and Tim Newton have been informed

The bodies of a man and woman have been found on Ben Nevis.

Police said formal identification is taking place and the families of missing climbers Rachel Slater and Tim Newton have been informed.

The discovery followed information given by a member of the public.

The two climbers were reported missing after a Valentine’s Day trip to Britain’s highest mountain. Both were experienced climbers.

A major search began for Rachel Slater, 24, and 27-year-old Tim Newton, from Bradford, West Yorkshire. The couple were seen camping in a green tent behind the CIC Hut before heading off up the 1,345m (4,413ft) mountain.

Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team has mounted repeated searches in difficult and sometimes dangerous conditions, aided by teams from across Scotland, Search and Rescue Dogs Association members and Coastguard helicopter crews.

The team revealed last weekend a technical ice-axe had been found below a route on the North Face and appealed for information from climbers.

Ms Slater and Mr Newton were among six climbers and walkers missing in the Scottish Highlands in recent months. Others still missing are Jim Robertson from Glasgow who went missing in the Cairngorms earlier this month.

Still missing from the summer of 2015 are three hillwalkers lost in separate incidents in the Lochaber and Glencoe areas: Tom Brown, Eric Cyl and Robin Garton.