Sportscotland is investing more than £600,000 in an effort to improve the country's athletics coaching.

The funding in Scottish Athletics will support a wide range of programmes from coach education to national representation, including the Commonwealth Youth Games in Pune, India later this month.

Confirming the funding, sportscotland chair Louise Martin said: “Investment and support for our governing bodies is so important in helping to provide opportunities for Scotland’s athletes to achieve their sporting ambitions.

Martin added that support for coach development is a key element of sportscotland's strategy during the run up to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014.

She said the sports body sees the creation of a strong, sustainable network of qualified coaches as a priority for the athletics.