A man is in hospital with a suspected spinal injury after falling 30ft from Edinburgh Castle Rock.

A major rescue operation was launched early on Saturday after reports that a man in his 20s had fallen from the rockface below the city landmark.

Paramedics and the Scottish Ambulance Service's Special Operations Response Team were called to the scene shortly before 6am.

They were assisted by firefighters who helped to bring the man to safety before he was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

A spokesman for the Scottish Ambulance Service said: " Our Edinburgh control received a 999 call at 05.43am on Saturday after a male in his 20s fallen approximately 30ft.

"An ambulance arrived on scene within 7 minutes, our Special Operation Response Team also attended and with the assistance of Scottish Fire Rescue the male was extracted and conveyed to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary with a suspected spinal injury."