CLIMBERS who broke Covid travel bars to scale a Munro have been fined after calling for mountain rescue.
The pair, aged 21 and 27, had to be helped off the ben after one suffered a leg injury on the descent on Hogmanay.
They travelled from Oban to the Glencoe area to climb Buachaille Etive Mor and 25 members of Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team (MRT) were involved in their rescue.
One of the team also suffered an injury during the operation and is still undergoing medical assessment.
The stricken climber was taken to hospital for assessment and both men have been fined for breaching travel regulations in the Argyll and Bute-to-Highland trip.
Inspector Kevin Macleod, from Highlands and Islands police division, said: "The men had travelled from Oban to hike this route and found themselves in difficultly as the light was fading at 3.25pm when police and MRT were called.
"The rescue took a total of 108 man hours and the team stood down at 7.30pm. Both men, aged 21 and 27, were issued with fixed penalty notices for breaching travel regulations.
"We continue to ask people to take personal responsibility to do the right thing and remember the purpose of these measures is to aid the collective effort to protect the NHS and save lives by preventing the virus from spreading."
It is currently illegal to travel into or out of council areas in Level 3 or Level 4 without a valid exemption, in accordance with efforts to limit the spread of coronavirus.
Police have the power to issue £60 fines to rule-breakers, although these are halved to £30 if paid within 28 days.
Andy Neilson, GMT team leader, said: "We will always continue to provide the vital MRT service that we are committed to, however the volunteers assisting the men did feel vulnerable due to the inevitable close contact required and we have to prioritise the health of our members in order to continue to provide this vital service."
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