A contractor has died after falling from a ladder on the Forth Rail Bridge and landing on scaffolding.

British Transport Police said the man died at the scene shortly after he tumbled 150 feet.

The accident happened shortly before 9pm on Wednesday.

The man, who has not been named, had been working on the north side of the bridge between North and South Queensferry. It is not yet clear who he was employed by.

Police, paramedics and coastguard staff launched an emergency rescue operation. However, they were unable to save the worker.

A British Transport Police spokesman said: "At 20.44 on Wednesday 27, British Transport Police received a report of a man having fallen from a ladder on the north side of the Forth Rail Bridge.

"The man, who was a contractor, died at the scene."

A Forth coastguard spokesman said: "There was an accident on the bridge and a worker has fallen."

Her Majesty's Railway Inspectorate has been informed of the death.