1996 was a year which featured part of the Leeds and Liverpool Canal being drained and bad weather catching shoppers off guard. It was also a 12 months which saw a bomb scare bring the city centre to a standstill and the victim of a racially motivated assault being reunited with the Good Samaritans who came to his aid. Enjoy these photos, plucked from the YEP archive, charting a year in the life of your city centre. READ MORE: 22 photos take you back to Leeds city centre in 1992 LOVE LEEDS? LOVE NOSTALGIA? Join Leeds Retro on facebook
![A workman surveys the Leeds and Liverpool Canal where a section was being emptied to allow work on the locks close to the city centre.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjBmZTliZDI2LThkMTEtNDk1Ni1iYTFmLTIwZjE4NzJhOGE5YTpjMDEyY2Q2Yi1mNjY0LTQ1NjctOGEzZC1mMzg5MDcwNmRlN2E=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
1. Leeds city centre in 1996
A workman surveys the Leeds and Liverpool Canal where a section was being emptied to allow work on the locks close to the city centre. Photo: Bruce Greer
![The new concept car from Vauxhall, the Maxx stopped people in their tracks on Dortmund Square in May 1996.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmUzM2FlOTNmLWQwZGUtNDFhMy1iN2RiLTA0MTQyZGI2NDk0YTpmN2JlYjQ5OS01YjcyLTQwNTMtOTQzMi1kMmM1ZjQzZTYwMTE=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
2. Leeds city centre in 1996
The new concept car from Vauxhall, the Maxx stopped people in their tracks on Dortmund Square in May 1996. Photo: Gary Longbottom
![Do you remember DJ Marshall? He was on the decks at the Pleasure Rooms. Pictured in January 1996.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjdmMmVlZGVjLTAyN2MtNGE0My04ZjQ5LTg2MmFlOGVmYWNlNDo2NzE5ZDVmMy1jZWI4LTQxODYtOWI4NC1lZDQ3ZGU3Y2JmOTk=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
3. Leeds city centre in 1996
Do you remember DJ Marshall? He was on the decks at the Pleasure Rooms. Pictured in January 1996. Photo: Justin Lloyd
![The La Comida restaurant was hoping for a Spanish victory in the Euro 1996 quarter-final clash against England. Pictured with his customers in June 1996 is Spanish owner Vincente Rodriguez holding the Spanish flag](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjUwMmM1MjFkLTRiMGEtNDFlMy05MTczLTAxZDk4NDMyYjhhMjo0MjA0NmZiNy1hODA2LTQ4NTYtYWY4OS1jODg4MGFmZmFiMzU=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
4. Leeds city centre in 1996
The La Comida restaurant was hoping for a Spanish victory in the Euro 1996 quarter-final clash against England. Pictured with his customers in June 1996 is Spanish owner Vincente Rodriguez holding the Spanish flag Photo: Richard Moran
![Oasis fans left the city centre by coach bound for Knebworth in August 1996.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmY2MTAyZjRhLTUzYTgtNDZjYy04NjAyLWY3ZDc1NjkzNzQwYjowMTk4ZWQ3ZS0yYjU3LTQyZmEtOTkxMS02MTZiMDgxNzVlMjc=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
5. Leeds city centre in 1996
Oasis fans left the city centre by coach bound for Knebworth in August 1996. Photo: Peter Thacker
![French clowns juggling in the city centre in June 1996 as part of the Music, Fire and Masks Festival organised by Leeds City Council.](https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmQ4Mjk3NDgzLTgyZWYtNDQ4MC04ODk5LWE4OTNkYzI1YjliODpjYTlkYzBmNi01Y2JlLTRiZjYtYTg4Zi0yNzc0Njc1NjUyNTY=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
6. Leeds city centre in 1996
French clowns juggling in the city centre in June 1996 as part of the Music, Fire and Masks Festival organised by Leeds City Council. Photo: Bruce Greer