REHEARSALS for Royal Ascot could help York cope with thousands of extra cars and several Royal visitors.

City council chiefs hope to stage a dress rehearsal of measures designed to minimise the disruption caused by Royal Ascot, including accessing the racecourse from the A64 and creating out-of-town car parks.

The "run-through" will also give North Yorkshire Police a chance to practice their security measures.

York Central Area's police commander, Chief Superintendent John Lacy, told more than 100 people, at the Dringhouses Ward meeting last night, he was expecting several members of the Royal Family to attend.

Woodthorpe resident James Fordyce told the meeting about the impact the event had in Ascot itself.

"Hundreds of cars park in people's driveways and they just go off for the day," he said.

Council and police officers also said they would consider a suggestion from the meeting to move half term to coincide with Ascot, to cut the amount of traffic on the roads.

Roy Templeman, City of York Council's director of environment and development services, said: "We want to make sure the city is as free as possible for residents to carry out their normal business.

"If the measures are successful, we will be looking at using them for other major events at York Racecourse."

Updated: 10:30 Thursday, February 05, 2004