Groundbreaking ecocide laws which will see reckless company bosses jailed for environmental destruction have been backed by the Scottish Government, the Sunday Mail can reveal.

Ministers have thrown their weight behind plans to introduce severe penalties for causing widespread and irreversible damage to ecosystems and air, soil or water quality.

It means Scotland now looks likely to become one of the first countries in the world to officially recognising ecocide as a crime as part of an international movement to crack down on major polluters.