POLICE have pledged that the huge security operation for the region's biggest sporting occasion this year will not affect cover elsewhere.

Royal Ascot is coming to York next month and hundreds of officers will be involved in policing the five-day event.

They will be in the city, as well as the Knavesmire racecourse, on York's western edge, between June 14 and 18.

But senior officers, who have spent months planning for the event, insist the operation will not be to the detriment of other areas covered by the force.

Officers will be drafted in from across the county and neighbouring forces "to provide a strong and highly visible police presence" throughout the event while staffing levels will be maintained elsewhere.

The pledge has been made possible by the cancellation of rest days and a moratorium on annual leave.

"Hosting such a prestigious event is a tremendous boost for the North," said North Yorkshire Chief Constable Della Cannings yesterday.

"Of course it will present challenges, but we have been planning for this event for more than a year and I am confident that everything that needs to be done has been done, not only by North Yorkshire Police but by all the relevant agencies involved.

"However I am also conscious that elsewhere in the county, life will continue as normal, and those communities will still expect, and still receive, a quality policing service."

Under the terms of the policing plan, the force is committed to working with the organisers to provide a safe and secure event and to assist the local authority implement its traffic management plan.

They must also provide high visibility policing at the racecourse and within the city, minimise disruption to local people and continue to deliver normal policing services throughout the force area.