GO HOME - and don't come back. That's the message to Royal Ascot from some of York's city centre shops and stalls.

Many traders have been reporting "disastrous" sales so far, with takings down by as much as 50 per cent.

One of the businesses suffering this week has been the Mr Chippy fish and chip shop in Swinegate.

Owner Andy Pericleous said he had sold only ten fish all day on Tuesday - far less than the 200 sales he had hoped for.

Mr Pericleous said: "I bought more stock this week, expecting bumper sales, but I am not even selling a quarter of what I was taking this time last year."

John Smith, manager of Maynews, in Parliament Street, said: "Our takings are about 20 per cent down on this time last year. This week has been very, very poor for trade. We've had no more than a dozen tourists and racegoers come in - everyone else has been local.

"Many of our regulars have been frightened off because the council warned them it would be so busy. They've decided to stay at home, or worse, drive out of York to shop elsewhere. All I can say, is roll on Monday."

Kai Coulson, who runs a tool stall in Newgate Market, said: "We are about 50 per cent down on what we would normally take, and some of the stallholders here are barely breaking even.

"As far as I'm concerned Ascot can go away, and stay away."

Magnet therapy stallholder Anne Everatt said: "It's been so quiet, and I'm sure people are staying at home because they are worried about the traffic."

Colina Schofield, manager of Help The Aged, in Goodramgate, said: "We've had half as many customers as normal, with even our regular customers staying at home.

"I can't wait until Ascot has gone for good."

Nor is the situation better outside the city centre. John Thompson, of Thompson's Fish Restaurant on the A64 between York and Malton, said: "Everyone was saying Ascot week was going to be great, and we brought in extra supplies of fish to cope - but it turns out our takings have been about half what we would normally expect for this time of year. It's been dreadful, and I'm hoping Ascot never comes back."

Updated: 11:08 Friday, June 17, 2005