TOUGH lockdown limits will remain in place in West Dunbartonshire - and across Scotland - until at least the end of February.

Nicola Sturgeon made the announcement in a speech in the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday afternoon.

The First Minister said: "The most recent figures provide further evidence that the lockdown restictions are working to improve the situation.

"Cabinet has reached the conclusion that lockdown restrictions must stay in place until the end of February.

"However as lockdown continues then I am cautiously optimistic that as more and more people get vaccinated and with the protection of some of the additional measures, we may be able to begin looking towards a careful and gradual easing around the start of March, and I will give an update on that in two weeks' time."

The First Minister also confirmed a return to school plan, with a full return for West Dunbartonshire's P1-P3 pupils from February 22, with a part-time return for senior students mixed with a focus on practical work for practical qualifications.

No more than five to eight percent of secondary pupils will be allowed in the building at any one time.

It was also confirmed that there were 69 further deaths of coronavirus patients, and 758 new cases in the past 24 hours. 610,778 people have received their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine in Scotland, up 34,881 on February 1's number.