The Cowgate has been closed after a man fell from George IV Bridge earlier today.

Emergency services raced to the scene shortly before 3.00pm.

One onlooker said “I was in the Cowgate and heard the commotion and went for a look and seen a man lying in the road being worked on by the police.

“An ambulance turned up and the paramedics started working on him.

“He was in a really bad way.”

A spokesperson for Police Scotland said “Police in Edinburgh were called to Cowgate at 2.45pm following a report that a man had fallen from George VI Bridge.

“Emergency services are currently in attendance and the public are advised to avoid the area.”