Glamorous outfits and a huge range of hats transformed Newcastle Racecourse into a sea of colour on Saturday as Ladies Day made its return in trademark style.
The eagerly-awaited return of the sporting and social highlight of the year saw the crowds in buoyant mood at Gosforth Park as queues built up before doors opened at 11am. Sunshine and cloud - then showers later in the day - were the forecasters' predictions but it seemed nobody much cared what the weather might have in store.
For many Ladies Day is an excuse to dress up, get out and about with friends again and make the most of what is - like June's Plate Day - one of Newcastle Racecourse 's biggest events of the year. On the same day as Pride was taking place in the city centre, the atmosphere here was building quickly as crowds mingled outdoors and in the bars ahead of the 1pm start of the day's eight races.
