CHANNEL 4 Racing expert John McCririck has revealed that police are to take no action over an alleged assault at York races.

He was said to have "brushed aside" 55-year-old security guard Jan Cole after she claimed he tried to go into a restricted area of the Knavesmire Stand.

The incident involving the grandmother happened at about 12.30pm on the final day of the three-day Ebor meeting on August 23.

Cole, who has five children and 20 grandchildren, made a complaint to the police following the incident.

Both she and McCririck, who later insisted he had done nothing wrong, gave statements to the police.

She is said to have told McCririck that he did not have the correct badge to go into a luxury suite in the stand.

Cole was working for internal security company Constant Security Services and, at the time, the firm's managing director, Mick Lee, defended her actions and insisted she was only doing her job.

McCririck said last night: "Naturally, I am immensely relieved that the police have decided that all proceedings should be dropped.

"The thought of possibly having to share a cell with Lord Archer has been daunting.

"Already, the police and the authorities have wasted enough resources on this frivolous complaint. It has been accepted unequivocally that I did not assault a woman. I never have.

"Short of murder the only charge worse than hitting a woman is sexually abusing children. It was a vile accusation.

"But, just as nightclubs don't employ sweet 55-year-old grannies as bouncers, nor should racecourses or any venue, especially when staff aren't even given the necessary basic training to differentiate between various passes and badges that do allow access to restricted areas.

"Wearing a security uniform does not give the right for any individual to be officious while performing their duties.

"It's time the Government further curbed the powers of the burgeoning, largely unregulated, private security industry."

North Yorkshire Police last night confirmed that a file had been sent to the Crown Prosecution Service following the incident, but that it had now been returned marked "no further action".