An "unbelievably stupid" man who threw a sandbag from a bridge and narrowly missed a taxi has been ordered to behave himself for a year.

Edinburgh Sheriff Court heard Luke Scott dumped the heavy bag off the side of the city's North Bridge following a night out with his mates.

An earlier hearing was told a taxi driver who had been waiting on Market Street heard a large thump before spotting the bag sitting beside his cab. When he looked up, he spotted 24-year-old Scott looking over the edge of the crossing and laughing.

The driver called police, who found Scott sitting at a bus stop. He admitted what he had done, but when asked why, could only respond: "I don't know, it was a stupid thing to do."

The first offender pleaded guilty to culpably and recklessly throwing a sandbag from North brige to the danger of the public on March 26.

However, sentencing was deferred on Scott, from the city's Lasswade Grove, becuase Sheriff Celia Sanderson said she was concerned he had failed to realise how serious the charge was.

Sheriff Sanderson told Scott he had been "unbelievably stupid" and said: "This is possibly one of the most stupid things I have ever heard of. I regard this very seriously."

She added that she put the offence down to immaturity and stupidity and ordered him to stay out of trouble for the next year.