YORK looks set to benefit from Royal Ascot in so many ways - and Royal Ascot will benefit from its spell in York.

As the city and Knavesmire gear up for the five-day festival in 2005, various issues have already been raised, not least traffic congestion.

While worries persist over how the roads in York will cope with a projected 300,000 visitors, such concerns should not be allowed to spoil the party.

Royal Ascot will be great for York. The latest bonanza for residents comes with extravagant offers apparently being made for renting properties. With so many visitors, and only 12,000 hotel beds available in the city, there is going to be a shortage of accommodation.

So residents can move out and cash in. One householder has been offered around £7,000 for use of his home during Royal Ascot. With most available hotel rooms having already been booked, in some cases within minutes of the Royal Ascot announcement being made, there is potential for lucrative letting.

In these days of TV makeover programmes, when you can hardly switch on the television without seeing someone knocking down walls or decorating, it may be worth picking up a few tips.

A note of caution is advised by one York letting agent who warns that would-be letters should be aware of the pitfalls. Wise words - yet such phenomenal offers of money will clearly turn heads.

The world spotlight will shine on York for this most prestigious of social occasions and we owe it to our beautiful, historic city to ensure it is seen in all its finery.

Never mind homeowners tidying up their property for letting, some work has to be done on sprucing up various parts of the city before we step into the glorious glare of Royal Ascot.

Updated: 11:05 Thursday, November 20, 2003