I HAD a great day at Ascot on Wednesday - £4 ticket - loads of room to walk around and picnic but it rained nearly all day.

Still, in the £4 enclosure there were two tented areas - well, a roof but no side cover from the rain. People were happy, they picnicked, watched the race commentary and placed bets.

The bar prices were reasonable and champagne was available at £29.50 - but I gather Cava at £5 in a local supermarket was just as good.

There was a huge TV screen to enable people to watch the races - although picture definition was not as sharp as in the next enclosure. Food was available but for vegetarians such as myself it was chips or a cheese and onion pasty for £3.50.

Chatting to other York residents I gathered they had not been able to park their cars outside their houses during Royal Ascot week yet the only ticket reduction for York residents was in the £5 enclosure.

Penny Wrightson,

Rowntree Wharf,

Navigation Road,

York.

Updated: 11:16 Wednesday, June 22, 2005