TICKETS for Royal Ascot's visit to York next year go on sale today, and officials expect the phone lines to be extremely busy.

Bosses from Ascot have urged people who want to attend the five-day racing festival, from June 14 to 18 next year, to book early if they want to be guaranteed a ticket.

They said the demand for tickets had been so huge that they had announced the public sale three months earlier than normal.

A grandstand enclosure badge will cost punters £50 on each of the five days, while entrance to Knavesmire's course enclosure will be £18.

Royal enclosure badges, which will be available to Ascot and York annual members for the first time, will not go on sale until January 4.

The Berkshire racecourse has closed for the next 20 months in order to undertake a £180m redevelopment.

Nick Smith, communications director at Ascot Racecourse, said: "We have looked at pricing quite carefully and wanted to advertise this premium event at an appropriate price.

"We will, at some stage, announce the Royal Enclosure plans and we have made an offer to York and Ascot members to apply for the enclosure.

"We have never done that before, as our annual members do not usually receive Royal Ascot tickets in their membership.

"I will be very disappointed if the phones are not white hot on Monday. A lot of people will be coming to York and will have to consider accommodation. That's one of the reasons why we have opened up sales for tickets in October."