People were left bemused and bewildered after a thunderbolt struck Charles Street in the city. This was 1981, a year which also saw motorists driven to distraction by city centre parking charges while shoppers in a south Leeds town were on the hunt for bargains with the opening of an open air market. Enjoy these 19 photo memories charting a year in the life of your city. The images are a mix from from the YEP archive and others published courtesy of photographic archive Leodis, which is run by Leeds Library & Information Service. READ MORE: 22 photos take you back to Leeds in 1980 LOVE LEEDS? LOVE NOSTALGIA? Join Leeds Retro on facebook YEP RETRO NEWSLETTER: Sign up for our free monthly email digest of Leeds nostalgia
7. Leeds in 1981
Writer James Herriot at Austicks bookshop on the Headrow, Leeds, autographing his latest book The Lord God made Them All in June 1981. Pictured are Jennifer Tonks and her daughter, Carolyn sharing a joke with James after he dedicated the book. Photo: YPN
8. Leeds in 1981
Park Square North in October 1981. On the left are a row of buildings with the National Westminster Bank in the foreground. Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
9. Leeds in 1981
July 1981 and Harehills Lane showing a parade of shops between Berkeley Road and Strathmore Drive, boarded up for protection as a result of riots which had taken place in the vicinity. Some shops have managed to remain open though, including Frank's Opticians towards the left. Photo: Leeds Libraries, www.leodis.net
10. Leeds in 1981
Yorkshire Evening Post cartoonist Jim Neal, known as 'Speed', at work. Photo: YPN
11. Leeds in 1981
Does the inside of this city centre boozer look familiar? The Vine pictured in July 1981. Photo: YPN
12. Leeds in 1981
Do you remember landlord Brian Drake? He ran The Station on Station Road in Cross Gates when this photo was taken in December 1981. Photo: YPN