Hay fever sufferers are in for a horror week as pollen levels in the air are set to soar.
Recent warm and sunny weather paired with rain showers has made for the perfect conditions for grass to flourish.
The Met Office predicts pollen will reach 'very high' levels from tomorrow, with the central belt and Borders the places to avoid.
Forecasters say it will be particularly bad for those allergic to grass pollen, with nettle, dock and fungal spores also posing a risk.
The extreme 'pollen bomb' is expected in Scotland for the next five days, and will lower to 'medium' levels up north by the weekend.
Pollen from the grass, trees and weeds presents a range of different challenges for people with hay fever at this time of year.
Common symptoms include sneezing, runny or blocked nose, itchy eyes, mouth and throat.
It comes as Scotland is set to be hotter than parts of Spain as forecasters anticipate a mini midweek heatwave to roll in this week.
Experts at the Met Office are expecting temperatures to reach highs of 22C on Wednesday and Thursday.
Deputy Chief Meteorologist, Matthew Lehnert, said: “By Thursday, Northern Ireland and Scotland will join the rest of the country in seeing a shorter lived spell of warm and sunny weather.
"But we’re also seeing an increased risk of thunderstorms towards the end of the week which is expected to bring an end to the very warm and sunny weather.”
