A section of downtown Halifax reopened after a strange odour in a building near the intersection of Barrington and Sackville streets forced emergency crews to block off the area Friday afternoon.

Emergency crews closed off Barrington Street between Prince Street and Sackville Street while they investigated the source of the odour.

CBC News' Craig Paisley was on the scene and said it smelled like gas.

Halifax Regional Fire and Emergency told CBC News the odour dissipated on its own but said they could not trace the source.