TWO Bolton climbers who spent the night stranded on a narrow ledge near the summit of Ben Nevis have relived their frightening ordeal.

Experienced mountain duo Keith Walker and Darren Archibald had to take emergency action after darkness and thick black clouds came down.

And today Keith, 29, of Tomlin Square, Tonge Fold, said: "We stayed calm and got on with it at the time, but looking back at it after, it hit us just how serious and dangerous it was.

"If the weather had been different we could have been stuck there longer and anything could have happened. It's scary to think about it now."

The pair abseiled down from the notorious Tower Gap ridge when they realised they could not clear it and reach the 4,000ft summit of Ben Nevis in safety.

Then they used stones and snow to build a temporary wall to shield them from falling snow and freezing temperatures and created a bivouac by throwing a foil survival blanket over their heads.

Keith and Darren, 31, of Templecombe Drive, Sharples, then bedded down for the night, regularly munching on chocolate bars to keep their strength up.

Keith added: "It was cold and of course we were shivering but we got through it and supported each other."

They sat tight from 8.30pm on Sunday until 7.30am yesterday. Then they carefully made their way down off the peak on a safe 'tourist route'.

At about 2,000ft, Fort William Mountain Rescue spotted them and lifted them down to the police station.

He added: "My wife was worried when we hadn't got back home so that's when the helicopter came out. But they didn't have to actually rescue us."

The pair work together on the contract to build a new nightclub and leisure complex on St George's Street in the town centre were they were back at work today.

Keith added: "We were sat up their shivering and all we could think about was the concrete we'd ordered for Monday morning and we wouldn't be there!"

"I know some people will say we were stupid to be stuck up there but I think we acted very sensibly and did the best thing."

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