Relatives of a climber killed in an avalanche on Ben Nevis have visited the scene.

Three men died in the landslide on the UK's highest peak last Tuesday.

They were caught by a deluge of snow and ice, triggering a huge search and recovery operation in treacherous conditions.

The men, who are yet to be formally named by police, were members of the Swiss Alpine Club in the town of Sion in the southwestern canton of Valais.

A fourth member of the group was treated in hospital after suffering injuries.

Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team (LMRT) said it had taken a brother and sister of one of the victims, and another member of the club to the scene on Ben Nevis.

LMRT said: "On behalf of the families and friends we have been asked to pass on their gratitude for all the assistance and kindness they have received from all the people who have been involved in the incident."

The family members are keen to recover the climbers' equipment, some of which is still missing.

LMRT said: "We have collected most of their equipment and effects and these will repatriated to France and Switzerland very soon.

"We have not recovered the ice tools of the four climbers and the families have asked if we can put out a request to the UK climbing community to ask that if they find any ice tools below No 5 Gully/Moonlight Gully Buttress area if they could hand them into the police station in Fort William our to the Lochaber MRT base."

The survivor - 30-year-old Swiss national Mathieu Biselx - last week paid tribute to his friends.

In a Facebook post, he said: "Thank you for all you have done for our community, and for your inspiration. You are going to be missed.

"Thank you for having come so far with me. My thoughts are with your families. We are all there for you.

"You will be forever in my heart."