We went to Edinburgh's Fort Kinnaird where thrilled shoppers faced mega queues

As Scotland took huge steps out of lockdown today, we headed over to Fort Kinnaird to speak to shoppers heading to non-essential retail stores for the first time this year.

On Boxing Day last year, Scotland was placed under a strict national lockdown, but today shops were allowed to open back up alongside, gyms, swimming pools, libraries, museums, cafes, restaurants, and beer gardens.

Scots are also now allowed to meet outside in groups of six from up to six households, with bars given an 8pm curfew for the time being.

As expected Fort Kinnaird was heaving, as excited locals queued up outside popular shops including TK Maxx and Primark.

Shaun and Euan from Mimi's couldn't wait to have customers back at Fort Kinnaird (Edinburgh Live)

Among those happy to get back some normality were Mimi's Bakehouse workers Shaun and Euan who were chuffed to be working again at the Mimi's pop up cake van at the Fort.

Shaun said: "There are lots of people about so hopefully that translates as people being happy to come out their homes again."

Commenting on the queues Euan said: "We were expecting it a little bit, people want a change of scenery even if it's just to come down to the shops."

Jacqui and Selena from Prestonpans were out shopping for 'knickers' (Edinburgh Live)

Jacqui and Selena were in the long Primark queue after travelling to Fort Kinnaird from Prestonpans for an 'underwear shop.'

Jacqui said: "We are on the underwear run, there's some essentials that need replacing.

"We have been at Home Bargains, M&S and now Primark"

There were crowds of shoppers at JD and H&M (Edinburgh Live)

People queuing at Fort Kinnaird as shops were allowed to reopen (Edinburgh Live)

When it came to queues, people were happy to wait a while to get into their favourite shops.

The car park was busy and often jammed as eager locals raced to get back to shops such as H&M and JD.

The biggest queues spotted at the Fort today were outside TK Maxx and Primark where people were lined up around buildings.

Students Lori, India and Caitlin were happy to wait in a huge queue (Edinburgh Live)

Local Queen Margaret University students Lori, India, and Caitlin were more than happy to wait in a long queue to get inside TK Maxx.

They said that they thought that the queue was going quite quickly and that they were excited to be back out and about again.

Couple Luke and Morgan were back out to return some shoes (Edinburgh Live)

Before the lockdown, Luke had bought his wife Morgan a new pair of shoes, but they were the wrong size and they faced a long wait to be able to go instore to return them.

Luke said: "It's really busy and probably best to avoid the more crowded shops but it's nice to be out in the fresh air and back to some normality.

Morgan said: "I still wasn't expecting these queues."