Glasgow Prestwick Airport is preparing to become a temporary morgue to deal with the number of coronavirus deaths in Scotland.
Plans will be launched if funeral directors struggle to keep up with the coronavirus pandemic as the Scottish death toll continues to rise.
The mortuary was agreed by South, East and North Ayrshire councils to ease pressure on undertakers across the region.
In a joint statement the councils announced: "As part of our contingency measures in relation to COVID-19, we have taken an all Ayrshire approach to facilitate a temporary body storage facility at Prestwick Airport.
"The three Ayrshire Councils are in regular contact with the NHS and Funeral Directors across the region to assess their capacity to manage any additional deaths throughout this period.
"The Prestwick facility will only be used in the event that Funeral Directors can no longer manage any additional deaths."
It comes after a warehouse at the Hillington Industrial Estate in Glasgow was turned into a morgue to help deal with the pandemic.
The facility is able to accommodate up to 1,700 bodies.
Glasgow City Council said the morgue could be open as early as Monday.
A council spokeswoman said: "Like all local authorities across the UK, Glasgow, alongside key partners including NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, is looking at various options for dealing with increased deaths as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak.
"We are monitoring on a daily basis the impact of Covid-19 against our planning models for the pandemic including potential requirements for a temporary body storage facility.
"As part of this planning, a site has been identified and we are working towards making this facility ready for use should it be needed."
A spokeswoman from Prestwick Airport said: "As part of our contingency measures in relation to COVID-19, we have taken an all Ayrshire approach to facilitate a temporary body storage facility adjacent to Prestwick Airport.
"The three Ayrshire Councils are in regular contact with the NHS and Funeral Directors across the region to assess their capacity to manage any additional deaths throughout this period.
"The Prestwick facility will only be used in the event that Funeral Directors can no longer manage any additional deaths."
Yesterday Nicola Sturgeon announced that 779 people have now died from coronavirus in Scotland - an increase of 80 deaths overnight.
The number of confirmed cases has risen to 7,102 up 354 from Wednesday.
Of the confirmed positive cases, 1,799 people are in hospital which is an increase of 51.
New figures will be updated this afternoon.
