Every race meeting has its favourite colour - and this May Festival it looks set to be cream. For while past seasons have seen a whole spectrum of colours, it was the earthy tones that proved popular at Knavesmire this week.

With not a ray of sunshine in sight as the first meeting of the May Festival got underway in York yesterday, it was no surprise to see a number of racegoers had plumped for fur trimmed hats to keep out the cold.

Emmerdale's Kim Tate (played by actress Claire King) sported a leopard print hat with brown knee-high boots as she checked out the form in the County Stand.

But Mandy Jones, Suzie Campbell and Lisa Shaw, of Barnsley, braved the cold in their cream and black summer dresses, keeping themselves warm with the odd glass of Pimms.

For many, a day out at the races meant investing in the obligatory shades (worn strictly for fashion purposes) and matching handbags and shoes. But one woman who had solved the costly problem of what to wear on the day was Julia Marples.

Dressed in her cream jacket with co-ordinating black dress and cream and black hat, Julia, of Chesterfield looked the height of fashion - but at a quarter of the price.

"I feel so flattered to be photographed, but I actually made my hat myself," she revealed.

But before you ask, Julia is no milliner: "I simply put a feather boa around a hat I already had. And each race day I just change the colour of the feathers. My hat literally cost me about £7.50, and it just goes to show you don't need to spend a fortune."

One woman who had dared to stand out from the crowd was Kay Kirby, of Preston - a regular at York races.

Having decided to make sure she could be seen, Kay went for a fiery orange jacket with co-ordinating sunshine yellow skirt.

"I must admit it's not a new outfit. It's actually one I bought last year for a wedding," revealed Kay.

Even though the sun stayed firmly behind the clouds, York racecourse hospitality staff brought a ray of sunshine to the day in their new uniforms.

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