We live in ‘lawless' UK city held to ransom by shoplifters who use 999-emergency phone to order £50 drug deals
Now, however, only the bravest day-trippers would venture there, with locals claiming it's besieged by drug addicts who congregate on the benches and nearby steps from dusk till dawn.
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The imposing Wakefield Cathedral, West Yorkshire, has become a no-go area for local residents, who have been driven away by intimidating behaviour.
Mothers have to cover their children's ears because of foul language from the groups who openly drink booze and blast loud music, while locals are terrified by their aggressive begging.
Drug users even order their deals via a public BT street hub, designed to allow the public to make emergency 999 calls, in earshot of shoppers.
One market stall holder, who did not wish to be named, said: "They are a scourge on this beautiful city.
'They turn up in the morning, when they are quite loud, then come back at midday. After taking their drugs, they have a bit of a siesta - a lull when they are out of it.
"Then they are back to being a proper nuisance around teatime.
'They use the BT hub to order their deals - you can hear them asking for £50 bags or £30 deals.
'The police seem to do nothing, even though they are always nicking from Boots, Marks and Spencer and the rest of the shops opposite the Cathedral.'
Shopper Reg Milner, 75, said: "It's a terrible thing to see in Wakefield. It should not be tolerated.
'I come to the city twice a week, and I think it is disgusting what they are doing.
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'There are kids going past and they have to hear and see what they shouldn't.'
Security guard Tanvir Hasan, 25, works at Boots, just across the street from the Cathedral, where most of the antisocial behaviour takes place.
'We have a huge problem with them - they gather outside at the back of the shop in our loading bay," he said.
'I'm watching them every day."
It comes after security was amped up at the city's main bus station last week to quell anti-social behaviour.
Spates of vandalism together with locals reporting to have felt unsafe at the station sparked an intervention from Labour MP for Wakefield and Rothwell Simon Lightwood.
It is hoped that a heavier presence of cops and station security staff will decrease levels of criminality at the station.
Mr Lightwood added that disabled passengers had reportedly been unable to use the station toilets because of the severe vandalism.
"Everybody should feel safe using Wakefield Bus Station," he said.
"It's the gateway for people to visit our city centre, spend money in our local businesses and visit local attractions."
"That includes making sure our public transport networks and transport hubs are safe for everyone to use."
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Meanwhile, mum-of-two Sarah Murray, 34, actively avoids coming into Wakefield because of the groups.
'They make you feel very uncomfortable and they are quite scary," she said.
'It needs sorting - it puts you right off shopping here.
'They are not bothered what they say or what they do, or how they make you feel.
'This is a city centre and it should feel like a safe place.'
Janet Murray, 64, who works in Poundbakery across from the Cathedral, has to deal with what she calls "horrendous" shoplifting.
'They are over there taking drugs every day, and over here stealing our goods every day. You can't touch them," she said.
'They come in and blatantly help themselves to what they want, saying, 'I'm hungry'. That is all you get out of them, and then they walk out without paying.
'You get a gob-full of abuse from them, but no money.
'There's no point calling the police, they're not going to do anything, not for a couple of packs of sandwiches.
'But, when they are stealing every day, all week, it adds up. And I'm working for my money.'
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