HUGE crowds lapped up the sun, strawberries and champagne while taking in some high-class racing at one of the North-East's big social and sporting occasions.

Newcastle Racecourse was awash with colour as the Northumberland Plate meeting enjoyed an improvement in the weather for the climax on Saturday.

Following Friday evening's damp start, and six hours of overnight rain to soften the going on the High Gosforth Park track, the sun broke through on Saturday morning and stayed out for the entire eight-race afternoon card.

The fillies frolicked in their finery off the course as well as on, with some colourful creations catching the eyes of the clientele and guests in the 47 hospitality tents and in the premier badge enclosure.

Further along the course, picnics were prevalent in the paddock with families making the most of the weather to enjoy their day at the races.

Some of the more serious punters mixed with once-a-year racegoers in the grandstand area, while the on-course bookies were doing a roaring trade, with only three favourites romping home first.

All eyes were on the course for the highlight of the meeting, the 2.50pm John Smith's Northumberland Plate, the 160th running of the Pitmen's Derby. Jockey Jamie Spencer made the most of an inside draw to guide 10-1 shot Unleash on a smooth run to land the £101,000-first place pot for owner Dorothy Thompson.

The Somerset-trained gelding held on for a comfortable half-length victory over Sentinel (12-1), with Zibeline (16-1) a further length behind to take third for the second year running.

It made it a worthwhile journey north for trainer Philip Hobbs, better known on the National Hunt scene.

More than 36,000 paying customers visited the racecourse during the two days of the meeting, including 23,000 on Saturday, a figure excluding children, who were admitted free with a paying adult.

Racecourse commercial manager Kay Forster said it had been a "busy but brilliant" weekend, easily the biggest of Newcastle's 32 annual meetings.

She said: "It's been a superb festival. The weather on Saturday was excellent, attracting an almost sell-out crowd, while Friday evening just gets more popular."

More fine fashions are expected for the next big date, Ladies' Day, on the final Saturday of July.