27 February 2013 Last updated at 08:46 ET

High hopes for latest ski season in Scotland

A snowboarder at Nevis Range

This winter could be one of the best snow sports seasons in Scotland in recent years, according to Ski-Scotland.

The partnership which promotes skiing and snowboarding said more than 140,000 people had taken part in snow sports so far this year.

It said the number was higher than most seasons in the past decade.

Conditions this week were described as "outstanding" with sunshine, no wind and good snow.

The figures are well below 2009-2010 - one of the best on record - when almost 375,000 people hit the slopes.

Last year, however, there were lengthy spells with no snow cover and there was disruption caused by hurricane-force winds.

Ski-Scotland chairwoman Heather Negus said: "We know last season wasn't a good one, but even so, to have beaten that total before the end of the English half term is amazing.

"We are also close to beating some of the total season figures during the past 10 years - and that's with two months of the season still to run."