A search for a climber with Scottish roots missing on the world's ninth highest mountain is poised to resume after being hampered by heavy snow.

Tom Ballard, whose mother died on K2, was climbing Nanga Parbat in Pakistan with Italian Daniele Nardi when they lost contact a week ago.

Mr Ballard, originally from Derbyshire, moved to the Highlands in 1995.

Military helicopters will attempt to fly four rescuers to help search for the pair on the peak nicknamed 'Killer Mountain' on Monday.

Karrar Haidri, secretary of the Alpine Club of Pakistan, said Spaniard Alex Txikon and three colleagues, including a physician, who are going to try to help find the missing climbers, will join Pakistani mountaineer Ali Sadpara, who is already at base camp.

Italian ambassador Stefano Pontecorvo tweeted the helicopters had taken off and that he hoped the search would start shortly.

Mr Ballard's mother, Alison Hargreaves, died on K2 when she was 33, months after becoming the first woman to conquer Mount Everest unaided.