CLOSED signs have been displayed in some York businesses which were unable to cash in on Royal Ascot fever.

Micklegate has reportedly become a daytime "ghost town" this week - a situation shopowners have blamed on the council's Ascot traffic plan.

Now some businesses in York are wondering why they are missing out on the Royal Ascot windfall, estimated to be up to £50 million.

Sharon Hudson, who runs furniture shop The Town House in Micklegate, said she was shutting up shop at lunchtime. She said: "Mickelgate is absolutely dead. They have stopped people dropping off in town, so it is like a ghost town.

"It's very disappointing we are not getting a share of Ascot. The council have taken it away from us.

"We have got a nice clear city, there's no traffic here, but at what cost?"

Jenny Harris, who runs The Marcia, in Bishopthorpe, also blamed traffic restrictions for loss of trade. She said: "We're losing money hand over fist.

"We didn't expect a great deal from Ascot, but it has just been dead."

Other parts of the city were also suffering.

Businesses in Albemarle Road said trade in their street was "dead" - because racegoers travelling to Knavesmire on foot were being directed away from their shops by council officials.

Sean Gallagher, manager of Knavesmire Butchers, said trade in his shop was 60 per cent down on a normal non-race day - and even more than would be expected for a racing day.

Fred Thomas, owner of Fred's Home Bakery, said: "I usually take three times as much as I took yesterday. Everywhere is really down - it's just like a Sunday down here. At the Ebor meeting it's usually heaving in here from about 9.30am."

Meanwhile, extra staff drafted into the Knavesmire pub to cope with expected crowds were left redundant. Manager Mark Whittaker said: "I can't understand why they (the council) are guiding people away from local businesses. His wife, Sandra, said the pub had seen about 100 customers on the first day of racing - when four times that number was expected.

Craig Holt, landlord of the Five Lions in Walmgate, said even his regulars were staying away. He said: "The whole of the city centre is dead. This windfall we are supposed to be getting isn't coming this way. York residents are staying away and so are the Ascot goers. We are definitely quieter than normal, it's just not happening for us."

Ian Collins, bar supervisor at Lendal Cellars, said: "It's been quite quiet around town all day, I don't know why. It could be that people who live in York have been taking all the advice to not come in during Ascot."

James Jackson, barman at YO1 in Fossgate, said: "It's been pretty quiet so far."

A council spokesman said: "We can't say if it's quiet because of the Ascot traffic plan or because of

the weather - it is too early to say. We are sure that the benefits of Ascot will become apparent to everyone in the city throughout the week and in the months and years to come, as visitors who have enjoyed the race meeting return to the city."

Updated: 10:20 Thursday, June 16, 2005