Holidaymakers have erupted in fury at Scotland's First Minister after she banned travel from Manchester to Scotland causing many to lose hundreds of pounds in cancelled trips.
One holiday hopeful commented that it would have been easier to travel abroad to Spain - which is currently on the government's amber list - after they lost £338 in cancelled train tickets.
Their outrage echoed that of Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham who raged at Nicola Sturgeon in an explosive interview for the travel ban which was announced on Friday 'without any consultation'.
He branded the SNP leader a 'hypocrite' for implementing the last-minute ban after allowing tens of thousands of Scotland football fans to go to Wembley.
Scottish fans caused havoc in London as the Tartan Army were seen failing to social distance and clambering on historical statues in the capital's Leicester Square.
His condemnation was echoed by many disappointed holidaymakers who have had trips cancelled as a result of the new restrictions.
One individual who had their holiday cancelled wrote: 'Because of the new travel ban between Scotland and Manchester my holiday to Scotland has been cancelled.
'Luckily the hotels will refund but the £338 train tickets can't be, it's possible I could get a travel voucher but that could take 28 days! Should've just booked to go to Spain.'
Marek Bidwell added: 'Gutted for the thousands of Manchester folk who won't be able to go on longed-for holidays to Scotland this summer.
'We've just booked a cottage near Oban for our 25th wedding anniversary later this year.'
He added: 'We need to learn to live with this.'
But Scotland's Deputy First Minister John Swinney defended the move and said their government had acted within the realms of what the public would expect from them.
Andy Burnham (left) raged at Nicola Sturgeon (right) for banning travel from Manchester to Scotland without any consultation - but allowing thousands of Scotland football fans to go to Wembley
Furious holidaymakers lashed out at the decision after it forced them to cancel their trips - with some losing hundreds of pounds as a result of the last-minute ban
He told the Today programme: 'We have got to take decisions based on the data and the evidence that presents itself, and take decisions which are designed to stop the spread of the virus.
'In our judgment, the rising case numbers and the high levels of the virus in the Greater Manchester and Salford area justified the decision we took and we are taking that to try and minimise the circulation of the virus.'
The Scottish First Minister announced on Friday that residents from Greater Manchester and Salford have been temporarily banned from travelling to Scotland and vice versa.
People from North Wales and other parts of England with higher Covid numbers were also included in the travel ban.
When questioned about the last-minute nature of the ban, he added: 'That is something we will reflect on but we put in place very similar provisions in relation to Bolton, which is part of the Greater Manchester area, back in May, and we've just followed exactly the same approach in relation to this decision.'
The move prompted Greater Manchester mayor to demand compensation for holidaymakers and businesses affected by Sturgeon's coronavirus travel restrictions.
The travel ban came despite crowds of Scots supporters failing to socially distance in London on Friday night (pictured)
The Scottish First Minister announced on Friday that residents from Greater Manchester and Salford have been temporarily banned from travelling to Scotland and vice versa
It prompted outrage online with many echoing the frustration of the Greater Manchester Mayor
One individual even accused Nicola Sturgeon of 'double standards' in an angry post online
