Ayr Racecourse are to stop selling all tickets for the Ayr Gold Cup Festival this year owing to coronavirus uncertainty.

Those who have already bought tickets will be refunded, said racecourse officials.

The festival is due to take place between September 17-19 and, although outdoor sports stadia are allowed to open from September 14, the racecourse has decided to take this course of action because they are unsure how many punters they'll be able to welcome.

On Facebook a spokesperson said: "Unfortunately at this stage it is still unclear how many spectators will be allowed and because of this uncertainty we have decided to stop selling tickets and refund all admission tickets for the Festival including those for QTS Ayr Gold Cup Day.

"We will continue to monitor the situation on a daily basis and if the situation becomes clearer within the required time frame we will advise accordingly.

"With regards to hospitality we are unsure whether we will be in a position to welcome our guests but will seek advice and clarification on protocols and guidelines we will be required to work within and contact those with bookings over the next few days.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused by this but assure you we will keep you informed immediately if there are any significant developments.