NICOLA Sturgeon has warned pubs could soon be closed again after condemning “dangerous” scenes at packed bars.

The First Minister said seeing images of crowds ignoring social distancing rules made her "want to cry".

She spoke out in response to Aberdeen South MP Stephen Flynn, who posted photos taken in the city over the weekend.

It comes after health authorities announced a coronavirus cluster had been identified in Aberdeen, with 13 cases linked to a city centre pub.

“A bit scunnered by some of the photos appearing online from the city centre over the weekend,” Flynn tweeted.

“Covid-19 has not gone away – as is evident from the cluster linked to The Hawthorn Bar. Should act as the wake-up call some folk clearly need.”

The First Minister pleaded with Scots to follow social distancing guidance.

She posted: “Spot on from @StephenFlynnSNP – COVID remains a real and present threat to our health and wellbeing.

“Scenes like these are dangerous, and could easily result in pubs being closed again – which no one wants. We all have a responsibility here. Please, please everybody #keeptheheid”

Addressing the Aberdeen cluster at today’s coronavirus briefing, the First Minister said the outbreak was "exactly what we feared" when the decision was taken to reopen the hospitality industry.

She added that images of people meeting in bars and restaurants with little or no physical distancing made her “want to cry".

READ MORE: Aberdeen coronavirus cluster: 13 cases linked to city centre pub

Yesterday, news emerged that 13 cases of coronavirus had been discovered in people who attended the Hawthorn Bar.

The owners said customers who were there on July 26 tested positive but it was confirmed by NHS Grampian they are only showing mild symptoms.

Physical distancing measures were put in place within the pub and contact tracing is being carried out to identify any other potential cases.

Earlier, Scotland’s national clinical director warned the easing of lockdown restrictions could be reversed.

Speaking to BBC Scotland about the Aberdeen cluster, he acknowledged there was no “risk-free route” out of lockdown and said there was no reason to “overreact”.

But he added: “Equally of course we should pay attention to outbreaks in call centres, outbreaks in pharmacies and clusters in pubs.

“And if there are things to learn in there about how to protect the population and how the population should behave, we should reinforce those messages.”

Referencing the Australian state of Victoria, which has introduced lockdown rules after a spike in cases, Leitch added: “But there could come a time when we have to go backwards, no question, if we began to see clusters developing or community transmission at a higher level around the country.”