SCOTLAND’S deputy first minister urged Scots to “stick with” the coronavirus lockdown as he revealed his mum died after restrictions were brought in.

As some measures were eased today and people allowed to meet one other household in groups of eight with social distancing, John Swinney said everyone had struggled with difficult decisions in recent weeks.

He called on the public not to take liberties with the easing of measures, and said: “My mum died just at the beginning of lockdown, and I’ve not seen my dad since we went to my mum’s funeral at the end of March.

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“I’m desperate to sit in my dad’s garden and see him face to face.

“But everybody has had to face up to these difficulties as we’ve wrestled with lockdown. And people have been really really good, and we’re just asking them to stick with it for a bit longer.”

From today Scots can take part in some non-contact outdoor leisure activities like golf, tennis, bowls and fishing, while most outdoor work can restart.

However Nicola Sturgeon has said the “strong advice” accompanying the relaxed restrictions is for people to stay within about five miles of their home and avoid busy places.