TWO climbers in their 20s have survived a night on the Cairngorms in atrocious conditions, after digging themselves a snow hole while they waited for help.

They were located near the Stag Rocks in the Loch A'an area of the mountain range yesterday.

They had been in a party of four from the London area. But the two other climbers had decided to follow a different route and managed to get safely off the hill to raise the alarm at about 6.30pm on Wednesday evening.

After contact was made with the two men, they confirmed they had access to shelter for the night and search and rescue efforts were postponed until the following day. There were high winds and white-out conditions in the area overnight.

Cairngorm, RAF Lossiemouth and Braemar mountain rescue teams began the search at first light yesterday supported by a search and rescue helicopter from the Lossiemouth base.

Willie Anderson, leader of the Cairngorm team, said: "The first two had been climbing a different route and had abseiled off their climb and got out an easy way. But the second two were struggling really. The conditions were deteriorating. They dug a snow hole, but then it collapsed on them so they got very wet and pretty hypothermic. We got them this morning. They were making their own way off, but were glad of our assistance."

The two men were found at around 10.30am and were escorted off the hills at around midday.