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Belfast City Council has said it is "urgently" investigating footage of what appears to be council staff involved in an altercation with a member of the public.

The footage seen by ����ý News NI appears to show three street cleaners fighting a man on Thursday about 03:00 BST on Great Victoria Street in the city.

The police said it received a report of an altercation and was aware of footage of the incident circulating on social media.

"We are assessing the content of this footage, and have been liaising with Belfast City Council partners as the investigation continues," the PSNI said in a statement.

An eye-witness, who did not wish to be named, told the ����ý: "The young man was heavily intoxicated and preventing the street cleaner from moving, after a couple of minutes the guy jumped out and put him on the ground."

The eye-witness told ����ý News NI that "two more vehicles arrived with both drivers getting out and joining in."

At the of the video, which lasts a few minutes, the man stands up and runs along Amelia Street.

Shortly after another van arrives with the driver getting out to speak to the workers.

The woman told ����ý News NI she was very shocked to wake up to this.

"There was no need for this behaviour, it was shocking," she added.

"When they pushed the man he could have easily hit his head off the pavement and that would have been a very different story."

In a statement, Belfast City Council said: "We are aware of footage circulating online which appears to show council staff involved in an altercation with a member of a public.

“We are looking into this urgently and have no further comment to make at this time.”

SDLP councillor Séamas de Faoite said he had spoken to senior council officers about the incident and that an investigation has begun.

"Belfast residents rely on council services on a daily basis without fault and I hope they will be able to continue to do so," he said.