The man charged with starting a fire which caused extensive damage to the iconic Majestyk building in the centre of Leeds will face trail in the spring.

Stuart Jefferson, 32, will appear at Leeds Crown on March 30 accused of arson in relation to the blaze at the Majestyk nightclub last September.

Although continuing to deny starting the fire at the Grade II-listed building in City Square, Mr Jefferson was further remanded in custody and will next appear at Leeds Crown Court on 16 January for a hearing.

The fire, which broke out on the evening of 30 September last year, caused traffic chaos in the city, with much of the city centre having to be sealed off while firefighters tackled the blaze.

While nobody was hurt during the incident, the damaged caused to the building itself was so extensive that the roof of the former nightclub is having to be removed before work can fully begin on its restoration.

Mark Finch, director of property company Rushbondm and owner of The Majestyk, has pledged to fully restore the building and give it a new lease of life for the future.

Greg Whitaker

Photo: Yorkshire Evening Post