AS York prepared for today's one-day race meeting, police announced that racegoers at last week's Ebor meeting at York Racecourse were the best behaved crowd in years.

Despite more than 32,000 people descending on the Knavesmire from across the country, there were just nine reported assaults during the three-day event - a number described by senior officers as a "dramatic reduction" on previous years.

Inspector Tim Madgwick, of York police, said that seven people had so far been arrested in connection with the assaults and a further arrest would be made shortly for the most serious incident.

"This was the quietest and best-behaved Ebor meeting for many years, all in all a very positive picture indeed," he said.

And Insp Madgwick praised door staff at the city's pubs and clubs for playing their part in keeping trouble to a minimum.