CAB drivers have hit out over "traffic mayhem" around York Racecourse.

Judy Horwell, of York Taxi Association, said many cab drivers gave up and went home on the first day of racing after scenes of "traffic chaos" at the racecourse, and yesterday had not been much better.

She said drivers were concerned because there were no police officers directing traffic, as there had been for meetings like Royal Ascot at York last year.

She said: "The racecourse did put a security man on at the end of their taxi rank at the racecourse itself, which did help ease congestion there, but there was the usual mayhem on the roads.

"Yesterday, I just gave up and went home and I wasn't the only one. You just couldn't move anywhere."

But racecourse spokesman James Brennan said the same traffic plan that had been used for many previous meetings was in place this week.

"We are working with the council," he said. "Where there is a meeting in summer, such as the Ebor, we will put in more complicated traffic plans. The measures in place for this meeting are broadly working."

Updated: 11:11 Friday, May 19, 2006