THE frocks were dazzling, the hats were big, and the heels were high, but yesterday was only a dress rehearsal for Royal Ascot.

Ladies day at Ripon Racecourse attracted the usual array of brightly-coloured designer outfits.

The annual event is a top date in the North's racing calendar in its own right, but yesterday all the talk was of next week's Royal Ascot festival at York.

Ripon has traditionally held its ladies day on the same date as ladies' day at Royal Ascot but, this year, bosses at Yorkshire's Garden Racecourse decided to bring the fixture forward by a week to give ladies the chance to attend both events.

Some used it as an opportunity to give their outfits for Royal Ascot a trial run, but others were keeping their attire for next week a closely-guarded secret.

Jayne Spink, from Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, is planning to be in York for three of the five festival days.

Yesterday, she wore the red and black dress and custom-made red hat that she will wear on ladies' day at Royal Ascot.

"It is going to be brilliant," she said.

"I have never been to Ascot before, but I have watched it on the television and always wanted to go.

"It is not often that you get such huge events in the North, so I am really looking forward to it and I thought I would try out my outfit for next week."

Another racegoer looking forward to Ascot was Heidi Boulton, from near Yarm. She was wearing a daring black dress with a partly see-through skirt, but had another outfit planned for ladies' day next week.

She said: "I think it's great that Ascot is coming to York.

"Why should the Southerners not have to travel and just be able to step out of their front doors to these events?"