Tuesday's tragedy happened in the Ben Nevis range

The new warning came from the Scottish Avalanche Information Service and follows fresh falls of snow and strong south-westerly winds.

Experts say the danger is particularly acute in the Lochaber area, the scene of Tuesday's tragedy.

Fresh areas of unstable snow are said to have formed in sheltered areas of the mountains and the avalanche hazard is said to be "considerable".

More snow and winds are expected overnight and during Sunday.

"Areas of unstable snow will continue to form, greatest accumulations being on north, north-east and east facing slopes and gullies above 900 metres. Avalanches are likely in these areas," said a spokesman for the service.

Climbers were also warned about unstable cornices forming on the high tops.

Tragic accident

Tuesday's avalanched claimed the lives of four young friends who had travelled from Kent to improve their mountaineering skills in the highlands.

They were hit by a wall of snow 2,500ft up Aonach Mor, a mountain in the Ben Nevis range.

Dead: Stephen Hopkins and Emma Ray

Two of their friends and a locally-based mountain guide survived for 16 hours buried under tons of snow before being found alive by rescuers. They spent two days in hospital.

The dead were Emma Ray, 29, her boyfriend Paul Hopkins, 28, both from Wilmington, Kent, Matthew Lewis, 28, and Ian Edwards, 30, both from Dartford, Kent.

The survivors were Steven Newton, 24, and his girlfriend Sarah Finch, 25, both from Dartford, and instructor Roger Wild, from Fort William.