A water leak at the landmark building which until earlier this year housed stationers and office supplies firm Probyns froze to create dramatic icicles.

The city centre building was cordoned off to shoppers today as ice hung from the window ledges, causing a danger.

Passers-by said the leak continued during the day as water cascaded out of the building from various floors, causing ice to crash on to the pavement.

Water appeared to have been frozen during the extreme temperatures as it was falling from a number of levels on the building.

Probyns, which also marked its 100th anniversary of trading this year, moved out of Tyrrel Street to relocate to out-of-town premises in Halifax Road, Buttershaw.

The firm blamed reduced footfall in the city centre and increases in overheads including rent and rates.