Three vehicles were involved in a collision on Regent Street, just outside the Salvation Army halls, shortly after 6.30pm last night.

It sparked a major emergency services response which saw several police cars, ambulances and three fire engines plus the Scottish Fire and Rescue major incident unit all called to the scene.

Firefighters had to use specialist hydraulic equipment to remove the roof of one of the vehicles and release a man who was trapped inside.

Eyewitnesses at the scene told the Tele he was later stretchered away into an ambulance and taken to hospital.

But it is understood the man was not seriously hurt.

The road between Trafalgar Street and Mearns Street was closed for some time while an investigation and clear-up operation took place, with traffic diverted along Roxburgh Street.

An onlooker at the scene said: “The cars were very badly smashed up. There was debris and vehicle parts strewn all over the road.

“It is a miracle that nobody was killed.”