Forthcoming series of the US time-travel drama Outlander, set and filmed in Scotland, will be viewable in the UK on a streaming service run by Amazon.

Amazon has confirmed it has bought the rights to Outlander and it will be available to subscribers from March 26.

Viewers of the time-travelling drama series, based on the best selling novels by Diana Gabaldon, will only be able to see the show on the Amazon Prime Instant Video system.

Fiona Hyslop, the culture secretary, as well as Creative Scotland and VisitScotland welcomed the news.

However, some Outlander fans expressed dismay on social media that the show was only viewable on a non-traditional broadcaster.

Amazon Prime has rights to other returning dramas such as Transparent, Ripper Street and Vikings.

The first 8 episodes of the Outlander's first season, shot on 16 locations around Scotland, and based in studios in Cumbernauld, will be shown from March 26 and then the remaining episodes will be shown from April 5.

Amazon Prime Instant Video has also secured the rights to further series, with the second season set to start filming this summer.

Jay Marine, vice president of Amazon Instant Video in Europe, said: "Filmed in Scotland and already hugely popular stateside, we can't wait to bring the show and its stellar cast of breakthrough British talent to the UK where we know there is a huge fan following already."

The second series will be will be based on Dragonfly in Amber, the second book in Gabaldon's best-selling series

The show and books follows the story of Claire Randall, played by Irish actreess Balfe, who is a married English combat nurse from 1945 who, while on her honeymoon in Scotland, is swept back to the 18th century.

The series of Outlander novels has sold more than 20 million copies and been in the New York Times best-seller list six times.

Ms Hyslop said: "As well as offering stunning scenery as a backdrop for filming locations, Scotland also has the capacity and talent to become a global centre of TV and film production, and the Scottish Government has consistently championed Scotland as a location for high-end productions.

"The success of Outlander shows just how much can be achieved when filming in Scotland."