Pen y Fan rescue in blizzard conditions on Beacons

The brothers were sheltering in a tent when rescuers arrived

Two brothers have been rescued in "atrocious" blizzard conditions from Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons.

The two, from Gloucester, had set off to walk to the summit on Saturday.

They pitched their tent and called for help after one was injured as weather conditions worsened.

During the 10-and-a-half hour operation the men were carried to safety by Brecon Mountain Rescue Team before the weather improved enough for them to be airlifted to hospital.

Dave Coombs, deputy team leader of Brecon Mountain Rescue Team, said the men were stranded 2,000ft (609m) above the village of Llanfrynach near Brecon, with the injured man suffering from hypothermia.

He said the rescue had been "particularly challenging" and rescuers had decided not to use the path because it is on the edge of a precipice.

"Because of the poor visibility and high winds we ran a very real risk of going over the edge," he said.

Mr Coombs added the walkers had "perhaps underestimated their walk in the conditions we had on Saturday".

"But their actions once in difficulty, by putting up their tent and calling us, undoubtedly prevented the outcome from being far more serious," he added.