A bid by nightclub bosses in Scotland to derail the government’s vaccine certificate roll-out has been rejected.

A judge has turned down a request for an interim order on the scheme, which would have stopped it coming into effect at 5am on Friday (1 October).

The appeal was brought by the Night Time Industries Association in Scotland, which claimed ministers were acting unlawfully by introducing vaccine passes, which will apply to nightclubs and large scale events.

But Lord Burns refused the petition in the Court of Session, ruling that the complainants were not able to demonstrate that the scheme is disproportionate, irrational or unreasonable – nor that it restricts human rights.

All of which means from 5am on Friday, people going to nightclubs and large-scale events in Scotland will still have to prove they have had two coronavirus vaccine doses.

But Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon has already said that businesses will have a two-week period of grace and not face the threat of enforcement action for non-compliance until Monday, 18 October.