SUNNY weather saw Chester's May Festival start with a huge race crowd.

More than 19,000 flocked to the Roodee on the opening day, up 5.5% on the same day 12 months ago.

The racecourse was expecting to release similarly uplifting figures for the ever-popular Ladies Day yesterday.

And for the first time ever at the May Festival, all stable lads staying overnight were put up in the Holiday Inn Hotel next to the racecourse.

Richard Thomas, Chester Race-course chief executive, said: 'It is a great hotel and for the stable staff, compared to some of the accommodation that they stay in, it is sheer luxury.

'They appreciate it and this is how they should be treated.'

Development on Chester's new state-of-the-art stables is also out of the stalls.

'The new stables will be a lot closer to the course and the hotel and hopefully they will be in operation for Chester's May Festival next year,' said Mr Thomas.

'They will have a canteen and showers for those stable staff not staying overnight.'