A mountain cable car system, closed after an accident in which five people were injured, reopened today.

Three people remain in hospital following the derailment at Aonach Mor, near Fort William, earlier this month.

Nevis Range, the firm which operates the popular tourist attraction, said the cable car system was up and running again at 10am following a series of safety checks.

Health and Safety Executive inspectors suspect the grip mechanism, which is supposed to attach the gondola to the cable, failed.

One of the cabins, containing a family of three from Northern Ireland, came loose and smashed into another car before plunging 25ft on to the mountain.

Nevis Range managing director Marian Austin said the decision to reopen the system had been taken after "exhaustive" work with HSE engineers and gondola makers Doppelmayr to make sure it was safe.

"Since the accident we have checked all of the machinery including each one of the 70 gondola clamps," she said.

"The main cable sustained some minor damage and this has been repaired and thoroughly tested, we have improved top and bottom station launch guides, and we have revised operating procedures.

"The full results of the ongoing HSE investigation are not yet available and until then we are not able to comment on the causes of the accident, other than to say that there have been a number of contributory factors.

"Our first thoughts have been, and remain, with those who were injured or caught up in the accident, and their families. We are pleased that they are making good progress," she added.

Craig Harris and Teresa Murphy, from Newry, County Down, and three-year-old Caitlin Harris were injured in the accident on July 13.

The mother and daughter remained in a comfortable, improving condition last night at Raigmore Hospital, Inverness. Mr Harris was discharged last week.

Jelle Koen, 52, from Totnes, Devon, who was hurled from the other car by the force of the impact, is due to be released soon from Glasgow's Southern General Hospital.

His 24-year-old-son, Daniel, who leapt from the empty gondola after his father, received treatment for minor injuries on the day of the crash.

The Nevis Range system opened in December 1989 and more than three million people have used it since then.

The resort is a major tourist draw for Lochaber and the West Highland area and will host the Mountain Bike World Championships in September next year.