Helensburgh and Lomond South Councillor David Kinniburgh has pleaded with central belt residents not to try and avoid new restrictions by travelling outwith their local health board area to watch sports fixtures.

Under the new rules, licensed premises in Argyll and Bute can still serve food and non-alcoholic drinks indoors until 6pm, and can serve alcohol outdoors until 10pm.

Chair of the local licensing board, Councillor Kinniburgh said: “Because of restrictions already in place and in view of the latest Scottish Government restrictions I do not think descending on licensed premises to watch the Old Firm fixture or any sporting event is an attractive proposition.

“Under the new measures customers are unable to purchase alcohol for consumption inside licensed premises and since licensed premises have re-opened televisions have had to be muted.

“Because of the restrictions imposed on licensed premises, now the bigger challenge is how you prevent individuals gathering in numbers in homes with alcohol purchased from off-sales and other retail outlets.

“I would ask anyone thinking of travelling into Argyll and Bute from the central belt for that purpose to follow the advice and not travel out-with their health board area.”