Basket case: Newcastle Racecourse bans picnics

Health and safety has been blamed in a move against the scourge of "spread out rugs".

Newcastle attracts more than 20,000 people to meetings and says it is introducing the ban on picnics for all its 2015 fixtures bar one following a number of problems at events last year.

The venue’s management team said stopping people from spreading out rugs and eating in chairs would ease movement around the racecourse and increase visitors’ enjoyment.