PATRIOTIC punters were flying the flag at yesterday's Evening Press-sponsored York race meeting following England's 5-1 victory against Germany.

These fans donned cowboy hats and Geri Halliwell-style sequinned Union flag dresses for the big day at Knavesmire after daring each other to wear the frocks should England win.

The girls - seated from the left Karen Buck, Louise Reynolds and Kim Foley and (standing) Amanda Buck - were cheered and clapped by the crowd.

Louise was celebrating her 21st birthday.

Meanwhile, hundreds of soccer fans packed into York's town centre pubs for one of England's finest footballing hours against the old enemy.

Chris Fall, landlord of the Northern Wall pub in Fossgate, said: "We were jam-packed.

"The roof was nearly blown off when the fifth goal went in - everybody was singing and shouting at the top of their voices."

A spokesman for York police said it was a relatively trouble-free weekend.

Updated: 11:33 Monday, September 03, 2001