heading in here heading in hereing

But these dramatic images of a bin lorry smashing through rows of traffic in a busy city centre street capture the moment a key stunt in Brad Pitt’s new blockbuster was filmed before ecstatic crowds.

Parked cars spiralled into the air as the vast truck tore down Cochrane Street in a scene which had been methodically rehearsed.

The sequence outside Glasgow City Chambers lasted little more than ten seconds, but took up the lion’s share of the third day of filming on World War Z and proved ample reward for the hundreds of onlookers.

Most had turned up in the hope of seeing Brad Pitt, but the 47-year-old was not on set, much to the chagrin of his female fans.

Yesterday, zombie costumes were ready and waiting but the extras who will wear them weren’t on set either. Instead it fell to Hollywood stunt co-ordinators to enthral those watching – and they did not disappoint.

The morning was devoted to dry runs for the scene, as the truck’s young stunt driver tentatively planned his course down the street, renamed John F Kennedy Boulevard as part of Glasgow’s transformation into downtown Philadelphia.

The team laboriously went over the plan time and again, driving the lorry back and forth without making contact with the stationary cars.

Despite the Hollywood stardust the production has sprinkled over Glasgow in recent days, it was an arduous task which demonstrated the industry – and the monotony – which goes into the on-screen magic.

As noon approached, chatter on security radios suggested a climax was imminent.

“This is the big one,” a man’s voice informed the crew.

One final rehearsal saw scores of extras frantically thrash their way towards George Square, darting down pavements and weaving through gridlocked traffic, before a crew member hosed down the street to make it look as if it had been raining. It is, after all, Glasgow in August.

Ensconced in a window booth in Committee Room No 9, a pub at the top of John Street which looks on to Glasgow City Chambers, I had the perfect view.

At 12.15pm, a rumble shook the building, growing more violent and loud. Then, the US-style bin lorry ripped past, tossing aside cars in its wake, including several yellow taxi cabs, dummies safely secured in their seats.

Travelling at around 40mph, the heavy duty vehicle – bearing the logo of fictional Philadelphia firm Pinkett Waste Disposal – careered down the street, sending some cars on to their roofs, as members of the cast scattered for safety.

On the lorry went, before crashing into a specially constructed bumper, halfway down the street, bringing the vehicle to an abrupt halt, before the driver hopped out the cab to the embrace of grinning crew members. The expensive stunt had gone without a hitch, and it was enough for some of those disappointed by the absence of a certain Mr Pitt.

“That crash was absolutely fantastic,” enthused Jenny Malloy, a 19-year-old English Literature student. “I met up with some friends to try and see Brad but we haven’t seen a thing all day, which is a wee bit of a shame.

“But that crash was great to see. I’m not a big fan of action films but seeing a stunt like that in a familiar street is really special.”