Mountain climbers to be told: snow is slippery

They are perhaps the summit of Brusselsinspired lunacy - a series of bizarre new safety regulations that have stirred up something of a blizzard among British climbers.

Under new guidelines, climbers will have to swap ropes for scaffolding while mountain paths will feature signs warning "Snow is slippery".

Walkers will have to conduct "risk assessments" and working in "unfavourable weather conditions" is discouraged. Instructors will also be prevented from teaching groups on their own.

The rules are supposed to protect workers, including builders and window cleaners, but experts believe they have been wrongly applied.

Mountaineer Sir Chris Bonington of the Outward Bound organisation said it was a case of "the nanny state gone mad".

"The whole point of the outdoor industry is that there is an element of risk. It is all about learning how to manage that," he said. "Without that, we may as well pack up."