RECORD crowds flocked to Knavesmire as York Races welcomed its biggest Timeform Charity Day attendance for nearly 30 years.

Punters took advantage of glorious sunshine on Saturday, with 30,799 visiting the racecourse.

William Derby, chief executive and clerk of the course, said the attendance was York's biggest Timeform crowd since 1974 - and 8,000 up on the expected attendance.

He said: "It was a really good day. "The Saturday attendance was 36 per cent up on last year and there were 12,641 there on Friday - a 23 per cent increase.

"We have raised over £3.3 million for cancer charities with Timeform, and the success of the day is a vindication of the hard work done by staff."

Area police commander, Chief Superintendent John Lacy said he was "delighted" that no arrests were made on the course.

Updated: 10:59 Monday, June 16, 2003