BREAKING: Six people from six households in Scotland can meet from Friday - with travel restrictions removed

Travel restrictions within Scotland are to be eased from Friday and six adults from up to six households will be able to meet up outside, Nicola Sturgeon has said.

The announcement came in an unexpected briefing this afternoon - where the First Minister advised on social media she would be making an announcement which will support mental health and wellbeing.

Travel restrictions within Scotland will be removed for the purposes of socialising outdoors and exercise.

She told the briefing there had been three deaths from coronavirus and 221 positive tests in the past 24 hours.

It followed an almost seven-month low in cases on Monday, with just 199 cases.

The easing of coronavirus restrictions in Scotland on April 26 is also expected to go ahead.

Addressing the coronavirus briefing on Tuesday, the First Minister said: "We are now extremely confident that those parts of the country currently in Level 4 will move to Level 3 on April 26, that's now less that two weeks away.

"That means, amongst other things, that on that day shops will fully reopen, pubs, cafes and restaurants will also be able to fully open outdoors on April 26 and will be able to open indoors on that date, but on a restricted basis."

The First Minister also announced that, while Scotland's islands would be able to move to Level 2, the decision has been made to align them with the rest of the country to stop the need for travel restrictions to the islands.

Hear all the latest news from across the North of Scotland on MFR. Listen on FM, via our Rayo app, DAB, or smart speaker.