Temperatures across Scotland have soared as the Easter holiday weekend gets underway.

On Good Friday, warm air from North Africa arrived to heat Glasgow to 19C, which was expected to increase to 21C by 5pm.

In Edinburgh, Friday's top 16C is expected to soar to 20C by Saturday afternoon. While in Inverness, the city's 18C is on course to peak at 21C later in the day.

The country's warmest day of the year so far was recorded in February in Aboyne, Aberdeenshire, with temperatures reaching 18.2C.

STV Weather presenter Sean Batty predicted that this year's record would be broken over the holiday weekend - ahead of some rain expected on Easter Sunday.

He warned that the warm weather will lead to a higher amount of pollen in the air, with Asthma UK urging hayfever and asthma sufferers to take prescribed medication and to keep inhalers close-by.

Sean said: "The highest temperatures in the coming days will occur in the north and west, with some of the warmest conditions across the north and west Highlands, Moray, inland Argyll, around Glasgow and Ayrshire.

"The southerly air flow is also bringing a much-enhanced level of pollen, which could cause issues for those with respiratory problems.

"After some rain on Sunday, Easter Monday should be a bit better again for most of the country, although further rain will move into the Hebrides later in the day."

The highest recorded temperature over an Easter weekend was 29.4C, taken at Camden Square in London on Easter Saturday in 1949.

ScotRail has appealed to those travelling to Ayrshire's beaches to behave themselves.

As part of the Ayrshire Safer Shores campaign, they posted: "No alcohol, no anti-social behaviour, just fun in the sun."

In July 2017, arrests were made after around 6000 people flocked to Troon beach, causing mayhem and forcing police to call for back-up.

Police seized significant quantities of alcohol, and those detained were aged between 14 and 20.

On Thursday, Police Scotland issued a safety video for motorcyclists who intend to gear up and hit the road during the heatwave.

Extra officers have also been put in place to patrol Kelvingrove Park in Glasgow this weekend.

The force said that although the weather is nice, they advised that drinking alcohol in a park is an offence.

They warned: "Don't take the chance of being charged."