NICOLA Sturgeon has unveiled East Renfrewshire's route map out of lockdown as restrictions are set to ease across the country.

The First Minister set out plans for a gradual lifting of the current lockdown at the Scottish Parliament this afternoon, a day after the Prime Minister outlined the UK Government’s road map.

Ms Sturgeon said travel restrictions in Scotland will remain for “some time yet”, so new variants of the virus are not imported into the country.

Scotland will return to a regional levels system from the last week in April if virus suppression continues.

The First Minister told MSPs the five-level system, separated by council areas, will return and she hopes those in Level 4 will be able to drop down to Level 3, which would see sectors such as non-essential retail reopen.

She also said lockdown would ease in phases, separated by at least three weeks, culminating in the removal of the stay at home order and education returning fully on April 5.

After lockdown is lifted, Scotland will move back to the levels system.

The rest of primary school years, as well as more senior phase pupils in secondary schools, will be part of the second phase – which will come no earlier than March 15 – along with an increase in outdoor mixing to four people from two households.

Communal worship, a further extension to outdoor mixing and more freedoms in retail are also hoped to be put in place from April 5.

The First Minister said:“It is therefore from the last week of April that we would expect to see phased but significant reopening of the economy, including non-essential retail, hospitality and services like gyms and hairdressers.

“And, of course, the more of us who are vaccinated and the more we all stick by the rules now, the faster that safe pace is likely to be – if we all stay in this together, our progress will be greater.”