NICOLA Sturgeon has urged the public not to breach coronavirus rules amidst wet weekend weather.

Last weekend an easing of lockdown rules allowed no more than eight people from no more than two households to meet outside for the first time in months.

But there are fears that more people are now flouting the public health guidelines after car use rocketed and crowds descended on beauty spots like Loch Lomondside.

Today Sturgeon said it would take two to three weeks to determine what impact the changes have had on coronavirus transmission rates.

And she issued a stern warning ahead of what she called "more traditionally Scottish" weekend weather, with the recent heat and sun making way for clouds and rain.

At her daily briefing, she said: "I'm asking you today to focus not just on what you are allowed to do as a result of the small changes we made last week but to focus even more on what we are still asking you not to do.

"It's by not doing certain things right now that we will all stop this virus spreading."

The National:

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Urging Scots to wear face masks and stick to social distancing, she went on: "Ahead of a weekend when unfortunately the weather forecast is more traditionally Scottish, ie heavy rain, I want to emphasise this point — you cannot and you must not meet people from another household indoors.

"That's a surefire way of allowing this virus to spread again.

"So if you are not willing to get your waterproofs on and meet outdoors, do not meet up at all. I cannot emphasise that strongly enough.

The National:

"The decisions each of us take right now as individuals will affect the health and wellbeing of all of us. Please, I'm asking you to continue to do the right thing.

"It really, really matters and it matters as much now as it did at the start of this pandemic."