TWO top Tory MSPs have deleted pics showing them mountain climbing after schools were closed due to coronavirus.

Murdo Fraser and Liz Smith took a trip up Ben Vorlich, near Callendar, Stirlingshire, on Saturday March 21.

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4 Murdo Fraser and Liz Smith have come under fire for deleting a tweet about a mountain climbing trip Credit: Alamy Live News

4 Smith shared pics from the trip to Ben Vorlich on March 21 - but deleted the post the next day Credit: Getty Images - Getty

The pair - who were joined by PR man Sam McMillan - shared snaps from their climb up the snowy Munro and posted them online.

Smith tweeted: "Thanks to Murdo Fraser and Sam McMillan for a good day out on Ben Vorlich.

"Stay safe message to all those venturing out. Still very wintry conditions at high level."

The previous day, schools had been closed across Scotland and pubs, restaurants and gyms had also shut up shop, by order of the government.

Social distancing was being advised but lockdown was not yet in place - and the politicians, MSPs for Mid Scotland and Fife, say they were following Mountain Rescue advice at the time.

4 The tweet - posted the day after schools, bars and restaurants closed - showed the top Tories on the snow-covered mountain

But they have come under fire on social media after Smith deleted the post - which Fraser had retweeted - the following day.

One user shared screenshots while replying to Fraser's tweet about former chief medical officer Catherine Calderwood flouting government advice to visit her holiday home.

4 Ben Vorlich, near Callander, is popular with climbers Credit: Alamy

They wrote: "Awkawrd Murdo, what about your good day out on Ben Vorlich with Liz on the 21st March? See the picture has been deleted."

Another said: "Doesn't Murdo Fraser live in Perth? An hour's drive isn't staying local."

A third branded the trip "incredibly irresponsible" claiming "multiple mountain rescue teams said to stay off the hills."

But one user replied: "Lockdown wasn't oredered until March 23rd, two days after this trip."

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A spokesperson for the Scottish Conservatives claimed Smith deleted the tweet after advice from Mountain Rescue changed.

They added: "The walk took place days before lockdown was brought in.

"Both Murdo and Liz adhered to advice given by Mountaineering Scotland and Mountain Rescue Scotland at the time.”

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