The number of routinely armed officers working within Police Scotland will increase by a third.

The force, which currently has 275 officers attached to armed response vehicles (ARVs), has announced plans to add a further 90 to that capability.

The plans were backed by Scottish justice secretary Michael Matheson, who said it was important to be "prepared for any eventuality".

Matheson also confirmed armed officers would remain restricted from routine deployment, following criticism over their attendance at minor incidents and public places such as supermarkets.

In a statement to MSPs, he said: "The attacks in mainland Europe and Orlando caused shock and grief around the world.

"As a government, we are resolute in protecting the way of life that we enjoy and cherish in this country.

"The different threats to that way of life are real and, as a nation, we must be prepared for any eventuality. That is precisely what today's announcement is about.

"There is no specific known threat to Scotland. People are safe to go about their day-to-day business and should be further reassured by today's announcement by Police Scotland."

Matheson added: "Members will recall the controversy in summer 2014 when armed officers were deployed to incidents not involving firearms or a threat to life.

"Police Scotland then reverted to the policy of only deploying armed officers to incidents involving firearms or a threat to life. There is no change to that approach."

The increase in armed officers, expected to be in place by next summer, will lift the number of routinely armed officers to 365, a jump of about 33%.

Overall, the force will boost the number of officers within armed policing by 124.

This figure also includes trainers and specialist firearms officers.

Police said the increase was in response to the latest assessments of the threat from terrorism and the use of firearms by home-based criminal gangs.

They reiterated it was not being taken in response to any specific threat to Scotland, but the threat of terrorism to the UK overall has been classified as "severe" since August 2014.

The force overall remains an "unarmed service", they said, with the changes meaning less than 3% of its 17,234 officers will be deployed in a firearms capacity north of the border.

Assistant chief constable Bernard Higgins said: "The threat level to the UK remains severe.

"There is no specific known threat to Scotland and this increase is not a response to any direct intelligence; but we must play our part in ensuring the safety and security of the whole of the UK.

"It would be dangerous and complacent to think that Scotland is any less at risk than the rest of the UK and this move helps enhance our response."