But that's precisely what one Leeds pressure group plans to do, some time this Friday evening, in two locations.

For those not taking part, it will look as if the people around them have been frozen in time.

One moment people will be going about their business and the next they will simply appear bolted to the spot.

They might be bending to tie their shoe-lace, walking up a flight of steps, chatting on a mobile phone or eating a burger.

No matter what they are doing, they will come to a complete stop.

The stunt, officially titled 'The Great Un-Freeze, a global warming sculpture' is the brainchild of Matt Carmichael and Dr Ron Wiener, of pressure group Stop Climate Chaos Leeds.

Mr Carmichael, 35, a part-time English and drama teacher at Roundhay School, is chair of the group.

Speaking exclusively to the Yorkshire Evening Post, he said: "It's going to take place at two locations: Briggate and the Victoria Quarter. We have around 100 people who are doing it but there is room for more to join in if they want, although we have an upper limit of around 200.

Wonder

"We don't know what reaction we will get. People will just freeze at a given time, which we are keeping a secret, for five minutes. It might look like they are about to catch a train, or they may be stood in a queue for a cash-point. Hopefully, that will cause people around them to wonder what is going on. After five minutes we will un-freeze and talk to people about why we did it and give out flyers with information on.

"We got the idea from a YouTube clip where a group did a similar thing in Grand Central Station in New York. It had quite an effect and that's what we are hoping for."

The Leeds Freeze event has been organised as part of Leeds Light Night, an event aimed at promoting culture which is now in its fourth year.

Fellow organiser Dr Ron Wiener, 66, a psychologist and dramatist, said: "We were looking for an interesting way of promoting our message about climate change and this seemed ideal.

"We see it as a two-stage campaign, because there will be the actual event and afterwards, we plan to put it on YouTube."

Stop Climate Chaos Leeds was formed by a group called TIDAL (Trading Injustice and Debt Action Leeds), which has links to Oxfam, Christian Aid and Friends of the Earth.

Stop Climate Chaos has lobbied Leeds City Council to influence its strategy on climate change and introduce measures to promote fair trade shops across the city; and has lobbied and met with Leeds MPs, including Environment Secretary Hilary Benn, in a bid to influence the climate change bill currently going through the House of Commons.

Tanzanian-born Mr Carmichael's group aims to raise awareness about two issues: climate change and Third World debt, which he claims are inextricably linked.

He said: "Because I was born in Tanzania, I have always been concerned about decisions made in the rich world and how they affect other people.