Edinburgh pranksters spark Google Street View row

A PAIR of Scots pranksters have sparked a Google Street View row -- by faking a fight for the cameras.

A PAIR of Scots pranksters have sparked a Google Street View row -- by faking a fight for the cameras.

The two young men can be seen staging their fight on Edinburgh’s Princes Street next to the city’s famous Scott Monument.

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The images were captured when the Google Street View team visited the city on a sunny day at the end of July this year.

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But council chiefs said they were “disappointed” that Google had used the shot, saying it looked like “a homage” to cult movie Trainspotting.

In the image a tall youth in jeans and a grey t-shirt has his hand around the neck of a shorter lad with blonde hair, wearing glasses, a purple t-shirt and jeans.

The shorter man has one of his arms out-stretched towards his apparent attacker.

City Centre councillor Joanna Mowat said she felt it did not portray Edinburgh in the right light.

She said: “It is disappointing that Google have chosen to use a picture which appears to be staged as some sort of homage to Trainspotting rather than an image that better reflects the true nature of Edinburgh’s Princes Street.

“It is a safe city centre with probably the best skyline in the world.”

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In images taken further along the street in the direction of Waverley Station, the two jokers are seen standing in Princes Street Gardens waving their hands in the air while facing the Google van.

And as the camera moves west along Princes Street the two lads can be seen walking closer to the scene of the fracas.

Once the camera goes past the dramatic fight, the pair are seen with their arms down, walking back towards where they originally came from.

A spokesman for Google said they did not wish to comment on the images.

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