PRINCE Charles tried to intervene in a Highland planning row on behalf of pensioners who blame their local council for blocking their view of Ben Nevis.

It has emerged the heir to the throne recently became involved in the row over Highland Council's handling of the new £7 million Gaelic Primary School for Fort William. It is being built in the community of Caol and the 40ft high sports hall has proved highly controversial.

Tavish Cameron and his wife Betty, both 86, are among a group of pensioners who have lost their view of Scotland's highest mountain. But before Ben Nevis was completely obscured, they sought help from Prince Charles, and he responded.

In a letter in August marked private and confidential, the Prince's private secretary said: "I am afraid to say that, generally speaking, planning issues of this kind are not areas in which his Royal Highness can become involved. However, I will make enquires of Highland Council and will write back." But the following month the Prince wrote: "I have been in touch with Highland Council, and have received assurances that the matters you and others have raised in relation to the new Gaelic Primary in Caol, have now been fully investigated and responded to.

"I understand that Caol Community Council has been invited to be involved in the Liaison Group and I can only hope that you and others in the local community are feeling more confident about the project."

But Mr Cameron said: "We finally lost the view around September. We are still in negotiations, but our best hope is that we can get some glazing at the higher level of the building. We wouldn't get our view back, but we should get some light through it."