Leithers out doing their shopping couldn't believe their eyes after fire crews were called in to rescue a pigeon in distress.
Firefighters rushed to help the bird shortly after 12pm amid reports it had become tangled in wire at the city's Kirkgate thoroughfare.
An area was sealed off while the fire crew got to work untangling the distressed bird, which was seen dangling from the building above the entrance to Poundland.
Edinburgh local Noah Nangle managed to capture the surprising scene on camera as crowds gathered to watch what would happen next.
"I’ve seen a lot of things but never a fireman rescue a pigeon before", he said.
Thankfully, it was a happy ending for the unlucky pigeon as the crew managed to get the bird free of the wire, with ecstatic Leithers cheering and applauding.
It's understood the bird was handed over to the Scottish SPCA's care, who were also at the scene.
A spokesperson for the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said: "We were alerted at 12:08pm on Wednesday (March 17) to reports of a pigeon caught in wire.
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"Operations control mobilised one height appliance to the Kirkgate, Edinburgh. The SSPCA also attended the scene.
“Crews left the scene after releasing the bird, which was handed over to the SSPCA."
