Following several days of speculation about the future of MWIS, and a public row between the mountain weather forecasting service and its backer sportscotland, the organisations have issued a joint statement announcing that the current provision will after all be maintained for at least the next three years.

News earlier this week that funding for Britain's most popular mountain weather service was to terminate at the end of 2016 prompted a barrage of protest on social media.

Sportscotland has invested £150,000 in MWIS over the last four years. An agreement has now been reached by which that lavel of funding will be maintained for at least three more years, allowing MWIS to sustain current forecast provision through what's been dubbed a 'development period which will result in a sustainable, long-term and enhanced service'.

Commenting on the agreement, Stewart Harris, Chief Executive of sportscotland said:

"sportscotland has consistently maintained that we would guarantee the continuation of a high-quality mountain weather forecasting service and that is precisely what has been delivered. I'm delighted that we will continue to work in partnership by investing in MWIS for a minimum period of three years throughout the development phase while we plan for a sustainable and enhanced service for the long-term."

"In the coming months, we look forward to working with a wider stakeholder group, including the Met Office, MWIS, Mountaineering Scotland and the outdoor community, which engaged in our 2015 survey about developing an enhanced service."

"The outcome we are all working towards during the development phase is a sustainable mountain forecast service for Scotland through the provision of reliable, authoritative forecasts which informs good decision-making on the mountains."

"We recognise how highly-valued MWIS is by the outdoor community and we want to help deliver the continuation of a high-quality mountain weather forecasting service."

Geoff Monk, lead forecaster at MWIS, said:

"It is great news that we have reached this agreement and I'm pleased sportscotland is to continue investing in MWIS at the same financial level as in previous years."

"There was a misunderstanding about investment beyond 2016 and now we have a resolution to cover the development phase before a sustainable, long-term service is up and running."

"We can focus on continuing to provide a quality service to help people enjoy the mountains safely and we look forward to working with sportscotland to support the development plans."