A TEMPORARY mortuary is to be set up in the Auchterarder area as part of contingency plans by the public authorities for the summit, it emerged yesterday.

However, police insisted there is no suggestion it will be used, stressing it is “not unusual” and is being set up as a standard requirement due to the large numbers of people expected to arrive in the area.

A spokesman said, “Various standard contingency measures are put in place for an event of this nature. For operational reasons, we can’t comment further on any details of such arrangements.”

It has also been revealed that low-key preparations are being made at Perth Sheriff Court, in a similar way to other courts through central Scotland.

Extra fencing is to be set up between the exterior gates and the main door of the building, to ensure the public are unable to gather in the “wings” of the court’s portico.

A spokesman for the sheriff clerk’s office said yesterday the aim is to “funnel” people into and out of the building, to ensure any crowds are moved through quickly and efficiently, a move which is “in everybody’s interests.”

It has been known for some time that court diaries were being cleared throughout the area, and the clerks at Perth Sheriff Court have ensured no time-consuming trials have been set down for the week of the summit, when police witnesses are unlikely to be available anyway.