Leeds University third year fine art degree students are pictured on the beach on Yorkshire's east coast. The art students claimed they had blown a £1,000 grant meant to fund a degree exhibition on a week of fun in the sun in Spain. They eventually came clean and revealed it all a hoax and they had actually gone to Scarborough. " It was fake news before fake news became a thing," recalled Sarah Thornton one of the students involved. "It had all the ingredients of a big story - art students wasting money. We managed to fool the world. It even made the second story on CNN in America." This was Leeds in May 1998, a month which featured The Wellesley Hotel on Wellington Street put up for sale and highlighted why employer Ventura was ace in Leeds. Enjoy these photo memories, plucked from the YEP archive, charting 30 days in the life of your city. READ MORE: Memories of a misspelt sign which drove Leeds motorists to distraction LOVE LEEDS? LOVE NOSTALGIA? Join Leeds Retro on facebook
1. Leeds in May 1998
The Wellesley Hotel on Wellington Street was put up for sale. Photo: Jim Moran
2. Leeds in May 1998
The Reclaim The Streets movement staged a protest in Leeds city centre. Demonstrators are pictured on Albion Street.
3. Leeds in May 1998
Inside Leeds call centre Ventura which boasted having perfect facilities for their employees. Photo: Dan Oxtoby
4. Leeds in May 1998
Batter Phil Borrow faces St Chad's bowler Daniel Carboon against the backdrop of St Chad's Church in Headingley. Photo: Justin Lloyd
5. Leeds in May 1998
Were you a regular here back in the day? Hopagy's Bar on Eastgate in Leeds city centre. Photo: Justin Lloyd
6. Leeds in May 1998
Artist Ali Allen (right) with her sculpture Figure of Speech at Victoria Gardens in the city centre. She is pictured with her supporters and Coun Bernard Atha, chair of Leeds City Council's Cultural Services. Photo: Steve Riding