A security guard was taken to hospital with hypothermia after getting stuck in mud at a building site.

Firefighters had to use shovels to dig the man out of the mud at the construction site of the new Portobello High School in Edinburgh.

It is understood the guard called the emergency services on his mobile after getting his leg stuck while working alone on a night shift in near freezing conditions.

A spokeswoman for the fire service said: “We received a call at 9.40am to attend to a male who was approximately 40 years of age. He was stuck in the mud, just one leg. Crews had to use shovels to help rescue him.

"They requested an ambulance for the casualty. He was moved to a stretcher and removed from the danger area and off the site. He was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary suffering from minor injuries and hypothermia.”

The new Portobello High is due to be completed this summer. The school will have room for 1400 pupils and will have a swimming pool and two all-weather pitches.