COUNCIL chiefs have signed up 40 authority workers to act as greeters during next month's Royal Ascot at York.

The staff, who have been recruited from departments throughout City of York Council, will be paid a £150 bonus for the duties.

But council bosses today confirmed that the extra cash for the bonuses would not come from the pockets of taxpayers.

Shane Chalmers, Royal Ascot's project co-ordinator, said the posts of those staff recruited would be covered while they were on Royal Ascot duty.

The five-day festival of horse racing and high society comes to York between June 14 and 18. Sixty thousand people a day are expected to join royalty at Knavesmire in one of the biggest events the city has held for decades.

The greeters will be helping to direct people to the racecourse from local landmarks such as York Station and will also help direct visitors to restaurants, pubs and attractions when racing has ended.

Updated: 10:01 Thursday, May 26, 2005