People have been urged to only call 999 in the case of emergencies after one of the busiest party weekends of the festive season.

STV News joined one of the six crews covering Edinburgh on Friday night.

During the eight incidents the crew were called out to, only one person required medical treatment for an injury.

The crew were also called out to several incidents where the patient could not be found.

Ian Stark, who has been a paramedic for 26 years, said the events on Friday were typical of a night out in the city.

Early in his shift, Mr Stark was called to a patient who was suspected to have suffered an overdose on Leith Walk but it emerged the man was very drunk.

The paramedic said: "We can't leave him out on the street, he's been sick and he's already collapsed at a bus stop.

"He's unable to get home under his own steam. So he's got to go to a place of safety, which has to be the royal infirmary."