Racegoers were left cross-legged, when they turned up at York Racecourse after long journeys to find the loos were locked.

Hugh Millington, owner of the Sovereign Chauffeur company, near Wetherby, said he had parked up with some clients at car park B and then wandered off to find the toilets.

But he said that when he reached the portable toilet block, he found a crowd of racegoers unable to get in.

At first he thought someone was locked inside - but then discovered that the loos had not been opened up.

A spokesman for Royal Ascot at York said there would inevitably be teething difficulties, but he apologised for any inconvenience.

Updated: 10:49 Wednesday, June 15, 2005