Avalanche survivor in Lottery win

Four of Stephen Newton's friends died in the avalanche

A man who survived an avalanche that killed four of his friends is to donate some of his family's £7.9m Lottery winnings to mountain rescue services.

Stephen Newton, 34, from Kent, was buried in the snow slide on Aonach Mor, near Fort William, in December 1998.

He and his family are to split the money won with a Lucky Dip syndicate ticket.

Mr Newton said £3,000 will be donated to mountain rescue services. Lochaber MRT were involved in the rescue effort.

'Ongoing repercussions'

Mr Newton and two other survivors of the avalanche - one of them his girlfriend - spent 15 hours trapped under snow before being rescued.

Lochaber secretary Miller Harris said memories of the accident were still strong among the team.

Members stayed in contact with the Newtons after the accident.

He said: "It was probably one of the worst mountain incidents that has happened in Scotland.

"It had long ongoing repercussions for the team and we met and counselled the family and attended memorial services.

"The family come up once a year and have been extremely generous to the team."