PITCHCROFT racecourse should not be turned into another Ascot, racegoers have told one of the course's directors.

Worcester city councillor Derek Prodger, who is a director at the course, said visitors to Saturday's race meet inundated him with requests to retain the family atmosphere.

Coun Prodger said the four to five thousand people who turned out were proof that The Times' correspondent's criticism of the course were unfounded.

"It was fantastic," he said.

"There was hardly a spare place in the grandstand. The sunshine was beautiful and people were having picnics in the centre of the course.

"They kept saying to me that they didn't want another Ascot, Sandown or Cheltenham. They just wanted a friendly Worcester."

The racecourse has been criticised by "The Course Inspector" at The Times, who ranked Pitchcroft at the bottom of 59 different national racecourses.

Last week, a spokesman for owner, Arena Leisure, said there were no concrete plans to redevelop the ground by building a new hotel or grandstand. It had said, three years ago, that there would be such developments by 2002.

"People want better facilities but not to create another Ascot. The track, I think, was worthy of a commendation.

"I spoke to one winning owner who said he thought his horse would only come second or third, but because of the conditions it won.

"We had 90 runners and one of the best gates I've seen," said Coun Prodger.

"There were some jollies but I never saw drunken behaviour. People do like Worcester and it's a very popular family track. Everyone I saw was enjoying themselves but they do want good facilities."