NO further investigation into the deaths of a Bradford couple who died in a “huge” avalanche on Ben Nevis will be held, it has been confirmed.

The bodies of Tim Newton, 27, and Rachel Slater, 24, who were reported missing in February this year, were found the following month.

The rescue team in charge of their search believe they were trapped under an avalanche which fell from ten to 15 feet above them and took them 200 metres down the mountain, which then buried them.

The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), which is responsible for the prosecution of crime in Scotland, the investigation of sudden or suspicious deaths and complaints of criminal conduct by police officers on duty, confirmed it would not be investigating the incident any further.

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A Crown Office spokesman said: “The Procurator Fiscal received reports on March 24, in connection with the deaths of a 24-year-old female and a 27-year-old male, who were reported missing on February 15, 2016, on Ben Nevis.

“After careful consideration of the facts and circumstances of both cases, the Procurator Fiscal concluded that no further investigation is required.

“The families have been informed of this decision.”

It was believed the couple had set up camp in snowy conditions in a green tent near the Charles Inglis Clark Memorial hut, which is situated on the north side of Ben Nevis at an altitude of 680 metres (about 2,230ft).

John Stevenson, team leader of the Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team (LMRT), gave more information about the couple being hit by an avalanche which is believed to have come out of an observatory gully on Britain’s highest mountain.

He said: “It was a huge avalanche.

“The avalanche was sliding down the slope when it hit them.

“It’s also bad because it was a young couple. I feel for the family.

“We are 99 per cent certain they were taken out by a large avalanche in one of its gullies.

“If they had started their climb ten minutes later, they might have missed it.

“It washed them down the hill and has buried them under a huge pile of snow.

“It was a big slider of snow that pushed them down and kept pushing them down.

“They did not have much of a chance.”

The rescue team also found a bag full of clothing, including hats and gloves, and a camera which featured pictures of the couple.

Ms Slater, a graduate of Manchester University, worked as an environmental consultant at The Mineral Planning Group based in Clayton, Bradford. Her parents are based in Canada. Mr Newton was a member of Hinckley Mountaineering Club in Leicestershire.

The rescue featured a 36-strong search party, which included police and mountain rescue teams using search dogs, and faced “very challenging conditions” with 80mph to 90mph winds causing a windchill factor of -20C.

The search operation also received help from the RAF.