IT was the day that the whole business community in York and North Yorkshire preened and paraded itself in a celebration of boom.

The Evening Press Business2Business Exhibition returned yesterday to York Racecourse, bigger and better than ever.

More than 450 people from all over Yorkshire converged on the Knavesmire Stand, where there was a record 68 companies on display.

They ranged from business advisers, fleet cars, web design, office water supplies and caterers, to conference venues, office furniture, private hospitals, audio-visual services and corporate entertainment.

The day consisted of seven seminars, helicopter flights and a casino - and it all climaxed in a spectacular fireworks display.

A giant crowd-puller was Big Pete's Monster Truck, the massive car-crushing vehicle which is used as entertainment at corporate events.

Soothing tired feet was Sally Hanley, reflexologist, who massaged soles of feet. Also soothing was The Pavilions String Quartet, which serenaded the crowds throughout the seminar event.

The York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce gave impetus to the exhibition by holding its monthly networking members' lunch at the same time in the racecourse's Voltigeur Suite.

Mo Hayward, Evening Press business development manager, said: "This is the second time we've organised the exhibition in association with the chamber and the combination really works.

"Everyone again felt the immense buzz of a region which is soaring in full flight economically."

She added: "Obviously it's hard to make an instant assessment, but I'd be very surprised if the knock-on effect of the event over the next few weeks won't be the generation of hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of business."

Updated: 10:25 Thursday, November 11, 2004