Three people have suffered minor injuries after a tower crane dropped its load of building materials onto a street in Edinburgh.

According to the Scotsman, eye-witnesses to the incident on Friday said the crane's load-bearing straps snapped. Timber and glass were then dispersed over Great Junction Street. The load fell onto a Mercedes car, which was crushed in the accident. The driver escaped with minor injuries.

A shopkeeper speaking to the paper said: "It had landed on the car, he was very lucky not to be killed.

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"I think it was down to the make of the car that it didn’t collapse on him. He was shocked and scared but said he was OK.

"All the glass had smashed and gone through onto the seats. I believe one of the builders was hurt as well. I don’t know how it happened."

Most of the material fell within the site where the main contractor, CCG, is constructing new homes for the Port of Leith Housing Association.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: "We received a call at around 10.40am involving a crane that dropped its load, and some debris which struck a vehicle.

"The driver was taken to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for shock.

"A construction worker was also taken to hospital for minor injuries. The road was closed, but it reopened just before 1pm."

(JP/CD)