He has been named as 38-year-old Paul Fooks, from Nottingham.

Mountain rescuers found Mr Fooks' body late on Thursday on Sgurr R'bhiem after a four-hour search with the help of an RAF helicopter.

His climbing companions raised the alarm just after 1900 GMT, a spokesman for Northern Constabulary said.

Police scrambled the Lochaber mountain rescue team and called in a helicopter from RAF Lossiemouth to carry out an immediate search of the area.

Mr Fooks was one of a party of four climbing near Fort William when he fell at 1700.

The alarm was raised by the other members of the group who were able to walk off the mountain.

Investigation

A police spokesman said: "It seems as if Mr Fooks lost his grip and slid down the hill.

"Mr Fooks had fallen about 1,500 feet. Relatives have now been informed and a full investigation is being made. A report will be sent to the procurator fiscal in Fort William."

This latest incident follows an avalanche tragedy in the area earlier in the week, which left four people dead and three injured.

The four men and two women, all from Kent, were with Fort William-based mountaineering instructor Roger Wild, when an avalanche engulfed them onTuesday morning. The mountaineers were buried three feet under the snow for 16 hours.