A major avalanche on a Scottish mountain has resulted in the deaths of four climbers with one female fighting for her life, according to reports.

The victims - two women and two men - were among a party of six who had been walking on Bidean Nam Bian, close to Glencoe.

The avalanche, which has been described as an ‘appalling tragedy’, took place at 14:00 on Saturday.

A major search operation led to the discoveries of the bodies of two men and two women buried beneath the snow.

It is thought that the slope they had been climbing down gave way, burying them in a wall of ice and snow.

The mountain of Bidean Nam Bian exceeds 3,000ft and is a popular climbing spot.