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A nightclub in Edinburgh's Old Town shared images of their busy St Patrick's Day event from Tuesday 17 March with revellers having their faces painted and dancing on crowded dancefloors despite warnings that people should be avoiding clubs.

It came as Scotland's First Minister announced that the self-isolation advice should not be considered optional, and led to people taking to the comments sections of posts to voice their concerns.

The Hive, an iconic venue in the capital, currently doesn't confirm the full capacity of their whole venue combined on their website.

However, in just their larger hall room alone 250 people standing can fit according to their venue hire page.

In a post on Facebook the club posted that "a limited capacity may be enforced at times".

The imagery from this week's club nights comes after Prime Minister Boris Johnson called for Britons to avoid restaurants, pubs, bars and clubs in a bid to 'flatten the curve' of the coronavirus pandemic and Nicola Sturgeon cancelled all mass gatherings of more than 500 people.

On a post shared on Hive's Facebook advertising that they were staying open one user wrote: "I mean the latest guidance LITERALLY says to avoid pubs, clubs and restaurants.

"You may be fine, but some of the people you infect with your irresponsible actions won't.

"I get this is a hard time for businesses but we all need to look out for one another and look for ways to move forward and keep each other safe."

(Image: Facebook)

Another said: "Well clearly the UK is immune to coronavirus unlike every other country in the world and we're continuing to go out and party."

A user from Italy commented: "Guys, the situation here in Italy is so dangerous - just three weeks ago we were in your same situation, we could go to the clubs, go out with friends and all the rest.

"From few hundreds to 15000 during this time - Italy undervalued the situation and now we have full hospitals and many people risk not to be cared, now we are locked in our houses in quarantine.

"Please, we are the example NOT to follow and if you protect yourself with few indications, everything will be fine. Just a thought."

The First Minister added in her speech issuing a warning to young people today: "My guidance to you is clear and crystal clear, you must not consider this vital health advice to be option.

"It is vital for your own protection, it is vital for the protection of your loved ones, it is vital for the protection of the NHS and it is vital to save lives.

"Please don't think this applies to other people and not you.

"We cannot just carry on as normal, life, right now is not normal."