I THANK the Evening Press for warning us of the norhern invasion for this year's Royal Northern Ascot (March 9).

Along with the forecast traffic problems and inconvenience of closed roads, this has finally made me decide I shall definitely be elsewhere during that week.

It really makes me wonder who this meeting is for because, apart from hoteliers and businesses, I don't see any benefits for the residents of York.

It is a pity that this report did not come out a couple of days earlier. It would have saved the owners of Rumours in Micklegate the cost of "toning down" the exterior of their pub.

I'm sure co-owner Arthur Swaine, a former PC and licensing officer, will realise that Geordies and Scots will not be deterred from drinking by a pub's decor.

Paul Gledhill,

Acomb Wood Close,

Woodthorpe, York.

Updated: 11:35 Saturday, March 12, 2005