Ben Nevis, site of the racist stunt. Photo: Bob Smith/grough

The trust that owns the summit of Ben Nevis expressed its anger that the mountain had been used for a stunt by a far-right group.

The John Muir Trust described as abhorrent the views of the small extremist group that unfurled a White Lives Matter banner on the summit of the UK’s highest mountain.

The charity said members of the public who witnessed the incident had contacted the John Muir Trust, which owns and cares for large parts of the mountain. It said it understood a promotional video was being filmed for an extremist far-right group.

The trust said: “We are deeply angered by the actions taken at the top of Ben Nevis over the weekend, from an extremist far right group appearing to use the Ben as a backdrop for their abhorrent racist propaganda.

“The John Muir Trust promotes diversity and inclusion in the outdoors. We did not and would not authorise permission for a film on our land that is counter to our belief that wild places are for all. The John Muir Trust has zero tolerance to discrimination, and any actions that promote discriminatory views are not welcome on the land we manage.”

Witnesses to the incident on the summit of Ben Nevis said other walkers on the mountain began booing at the group when they saw the banner.

Ian Blackford, the Scottish National Party’s Westminster leader and in whose constituency Ben Nevis stands, said: “These reports and images are utterly abhorrent and have no place in Ben Nevis or anywhere in Scotland, and I have no doubt that the vast majority of people across this country will roundly reject their vile views and agenda.

“When it comes to racists and racism, we must be unequivocal in calling out this hatred wherever and whenever it rears its ugly head.

“These racists are not welcome here.”