First flash mob in city

The flash mobbers were in the store for a couple of minutes

Around 30 people took parts in Leeds' first flash mob when they entered a jewellery store holding a newspaper.

The event on Saturday had been arranged over the internet, with e-mails and text messages being sent out to give participants the details.

It is part of a phenomenon which began in a department store in New York in June and has spread across the world.

Shop owners find themselves overrun with up to hundreds of people taking part in bizarre, but legal activities.

Sofa staring

In Leeds, the flash mob had been due to take place in a phone shop on Briggate, but because it was closed, the H Samuel store was used instead.

They stayed inside the shop for a few minutes before shaking hands and congratulating each other.

Organiser Matt Thompson, a 16-year-old student, said it was still a success despite the targeted phone shop finding out about the flash mob.

He said: "The shop was closed so we had to do a bit of improvisation.

"We went in the jewellers for about two minutes and the shopkeepers were certainly shocked when a large group of people walked in."

He added that another flash mob might take place in the city..

Other flash mobs around the world have seen people staring at a sofa in London, and breaking into spontaneous applause in New York.