Bank holiday blues

Baking heat then downpours, tightened security at all major events and roadworks all over – it’ll be a VERY long weekend

SCOTS are set for bank holiday misery with a perfect storm of delays on the roads, baking heat and huge queues at major events.

Music venues, football stadiums, art galleries and museums have all tightened security following the suicide bombing in Manchester on Monday which left 22 people dead.

Fans travelling to Saturday’s Scottish Cup final between Aberdeen and Celtic and supporters and runners heading for the Edinburgh Marathon on Sunday are being told to expect an increased police presence with armed officers deployed.

Last night, there was increased security at Glasgow’s SEC Hydro for an event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Celtic’s European cup victory in Lisbon.

Traffic Scotland also warned that roadworks across the country are expected to cause severe delays on trunk roads and motorways.

And a mix of potentially record-breaking heat today and torrential rain tomorrow could make for uncomfortable car conditions for families heading away.

Forecasters predicted the mercury would hit 30.9C (87F) on the Moray Firth today, breaking a record for May set in 1841.

A spokesman for the AA said: ‘We would advise drivers in Scotland to expect to run into hold-ups and build extra time into their journey plans to avoid becoming frustrated and possibly causing an accident.’

Drivers have been told to expect ‘major disruption’ on the M8 at Eurocentral in Lanarkshire. Part of a £500million project to improve the M8, M73 and M74, it comes weeks after the stretch was reopened following months of disruption.

More closures take place on the M73 southbound between 8pm tonight and 6am tomorrow and again from 8pm tomorrow until 6am on Monday.

Traffic Scotland said roadworks will also affect the A95 at Spey Bridge in the Highlands and the A90 at Peterhead today, and at Junction One of the M90 at Inverkeithing tomorrow, and the A83 at Lochgilphead, Argyll and Bute, on Monday.

People hoping to spend the weekend at the beach should pack brollies as well as sun cream, as a band of heavy rain is expected to sweep across the country from the West from tomorrow lunchtime, with temperatures set to dip to 22C (73F).

There will be sunny spells and showers on Sunday across the central belt, and on Bank Holiday Monday temperatures are expected to fall to around 19C (66F).

Susan Aitken, the newly appointed leader of Glasgow City Council, said officials had been discussing the safety and security of Glasgow’s venues with police Scotland.

And the 30,000 people expected at the Edinburgh Marathon on Sunday have been told to expect an increase in security with extra police officers deployed.

There will also be increased security at Hampden tomorrow as 50,000 fans attend the Scottish Cup Final.

British Transport Police said they would be deploying extra officers and armed officers from Police Scotland will also patrol stations. In a message to fans a ScotRail spokesman said: ‘Leave plenty of time to get to the game. Extra staff will be around to help – please follow their instructions to ensure that everything goes smoothly.’

Both Celtic and Aberdeen have vowed to curtail their victory celebrations if they lift the trophy tomorrow out of respect for the victims of Monday’s atrocity in Manchester.

Aberdeen said that there would be no open top bus victory parade in the city and Celtic asked fans not to congregate at Celtic Park after the final, as the trophy would not be presented by returning players.

The Parkhead club also cancelled a ‘Heroes and Legends’ bus parade, due to take place ahead of a charity match at their stadium on Sunday.

A Celtic spokesman said: ‘Given the situation, and the pressure on police and security resources, we are sure that our supporters will fully understand these measures which have been taken.

‘We thank all our fans for their assistance and co-operation.’

‘Extra staff will be around to help’