A major search is under way for seven hillwalkers, including a five-year-old girl, missing in the Grampian mountains in the north- east of Scotland.

Police and a mountain rescue team are searching the area around Tomintoul, Aberdeenshire, for the party of four men, two women and the child, who failed to return to their cars after setting out on a walk to visit a derelict lodge.

The party, which includes two families, have two German Shepherd dogs with them.

Grampian Police, who are co-ordinating the search, said some members of the group come from central Scotland, the others from England.

They set out from Bridge of Avon, Tomintoul, at 1.30pm on New Year's Day, and were due to return around 6pm. A friend raised the alarm when the party did not turn up.

A police spokesman said: "We are confident they will be found safe. If they have become lost, they may have taken shelter elsewhere.

"The Grampian police Mountain Rescue Team and officers from Speyside will continue the search for the forseeable future. Obviously if they haven't been found by first light, I would expect the RAF to be called in."

The spokesman said weather in the Tomintoul area was very windy, with a slight frost, but no snow.
 

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