A robber grabbed a man and attempted to steal his laptop bag as he walked along a busy street in Edinburgh.

The 25-year-old victim had just taken cash out of an RBS machine on Princes Street and was walking along South Charlotte Street when he was attacked.

A man grabbed him from behind as he crossed the junction with Hope Street Lane at around 4.20pm on Tuesday and demanded he hand over his possessions.

The pair began struggling and the robber tried to grab a laptop bag from the victim. Members of the public intervened and the attacker ran off empty-handed.

Lothian and Borders Police are appealing for witnesses as they try and track down the robber.

The attacker was white, between 18 and 30 years old, between 5ft 7ins and 5ft 10ins tall, of slim build with short dark ginger hair and a pockmarked or scarred face. He was wearing a navy blue hoodie and black jeans and spoke with a Scottish accent.

A police spokesman said: "Fortunately the victim was not injured during this incident, nor was he robbed of any of his possessions.

"Nevertheless, we are eager to speak to anyone who can assist us in tracing the man responsible.

"Anyone who was in or around South Charlotte Street at around 4.20pm yesterday and remembers seeing anything suspicious is asked to contact police immediately."

Anyone with any information can contact Lothian and Borders Police on 0131 311 3131, or through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.