A £55million emergency sports funding package to tackle lost ticket revenue during the coronavirus pandemic has been announced by the Scottish Government.

It comes as many sporting clubs and facilities have been starved of their main source of income due to Covid restrictions with fans unable to attend events since March.

The funding will comprise grants and low-interest loans, including £30m for Scottish football at all levels of the game.

Scottish rugby will benefit from £20m, alongside funding for basketball, netball, motor sport, horse racing and ice hockey, including support for ice rinks that support Scotland’s world-class curling programmes as well as recreational and professional skating.