Nicola Sturgeon bashes drive-through coffee queues after Costa re-opened and questions if an ‘essential journey’

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Scotland’s First Minister today lashed out at the public after shocking pictures revealed hundreds of coffee fans queuing for hours all over Britain.

Coffee lovers waited in line in Edinburgh

A police van waited in line at the drive-through in Manchester

This barista in Croydon, South London wore a face mask for protection as she served a customer

Mammoth queues of cars at a Costa in Wakefield

Speaking at her daily briefing, Ms Sturgeon was asked about the long queues outside Costa at Braehead in Glasgow.

She said: “You should ask yourself if going for a drive-through coffee is really an essential journey”.

Brits have been warned to leave their homes just once a day for exercise and also for essential journeys, such as key workers getting to work or trips to the supermarket.

Police have been given extra powers to fine people who breach the lockdown rules, which have been put in place to help stop the spread of coronavirus.

The queue for the drive-through in Glasgow near the Braehead Shopping Centre was said to stretch as far back to the main road near the M8 in Hillington.

In Edinburgh, drivers queued around the car park as they waited to be served by the baristas, who were wearing protective gloves and masks.

In the Scottish capital, two Costas were open, the Sharpdale and South Bridge branches.

Some customers reported waiting for hours for their favourite brew during the coronavirus lockdown.

Long queues were also spotted at branches in Yorkshire, Watford and Nottingham.

Even the cops joined in as a police van waited in line at the branch in Manchester.

Yesterday eagle-eyed customers praised the store for using a machine to pass the coffee and maintain social distancing.

At the same conference, Ms Sturgeon also confirmed the Scottish Government was still considering allowing the public to see a few friends from outside their own household.

Discussing easing the lockdown, the Scottish leader suggested the public could decide on one key group of pals who they were allowed to see.

She said: “We are considering if and how we could make changes to allow people to meet with a small number of others (the number is under consideration) outside their own household in a group or ‘bubble’ that acts as a single, self-contained unit, without connections to other households or ‘bubbles’.

“It is possible that this option would be introduced first for outdoor meetings, ahead of any change to permit indoor meetings of the bubble.”