Nicola Sturgeon has urged for the Brexit transition period to be extended amid growing concerns about the faster-spreading coronavirus strain. 

The First Minister said it would be "unconscionable" to compound attention paid to virus variant with Brexit. 

It comes after an announcement mainland Scotland would be entering level four restrictions from December 26 to prevent the spread of the strain. 

While the new strain is not as prominent in Scotland, Mrs Sturgeon warned we must act preventatively and said: "Four weeks ago London's cases were really low and now they are running out of control and that is what we face."

The Brexit transition period is due to end on December 31 Ms Sturgeon has now warned we face a "profoundly serious situation" which demands "100 percent of our attention". 

READ MORE:  Level 4 restrictions set for majority of Scotland after Boxing Day

She wrote on Twitter: “It’s now imperative that PM seeks an agreement to extend the Brexit transition period.

“The new Covid strain – & the various implications of it – means we face a profoundly serious situation, & it demands our 100% attention.

“It would be unconscionable to compound it with Brexit.”

On Saturday evening Ms Sturgeon said 17 cases of the new strain had been identified in Scotland – 16 of which were in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde region.

The discovery of the faster-spreading mutation prompted both the UK and Scottish governments to drastically scale back the easing of restrictions over Christmas.

Countries across Europe have started banning flights from Britain after the disclosure the country is the centre of the outbreak of the new variant, which is up to 70% more transmissible than the original.

France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Ireland and Bulgaria have all imposed restrictions on UK travel, while the Port of Dover announced its ferry terminal was closing to all traffic leaving the UK due to French border restrictions.