What to expect if you are attending the first day of Boodles May Festival.

Many racegoers will have woken up to a less than ideal picture when drawing back the curtains this morning, but the weather is set to brighten up this afternoon.

The rain will be at its heaviest for the next hour, with the Met Office identifying a chance of heavy showers between 11am and 12pm. There may also be sunny breaks throughout the cloud.

Moving past midday, the weather will become more overcast, however the chance of rain will also drop with a 50 percent chance at noon dropping to a 10 percent chance by 1pm.

This should continue throughout the afternoon, with clouds becoming lighter until around 5pm when sunny intervals will return, the chance of rain is judged to be less than 5 percent.

Temperatures throughout the day will hang around the 13 degree mark with highs of 15 degrees possible.

Lighter clouds will then stay throughout the early evening, with sunset due at 8.45pm.

The Boodles May Festival is set to get underway from 11.30am and runs from May 4 to May 6.

The first race is due to commence at 1.30pm, with the event's showpiece today, The Boodles Chester Vase, scheduled for 3.10pm.

Other races include: The ICM Stellar Sports Lily Agnes Conditions Stakes (1.30pm), Tote.co.uk Free Chester Placepot Every Day Handicap Stakes (2.05pm), The Weatherbys Bloodstock Pro Cheshire Oaks Cup (2.40pm), The Deepbridge Handicap Stakes (3.40pm), The Edinburgh Gin Maiden Stakes (4.15pm) and the final race of the opening day The Stephen Wade Handicap Stakes (4.45pm).

The festival and Chester BID have recently launched a joint campaign 'Chester loves racegoers' in an attempt to discourage unwanted negative behaviour around the city both whilst the event takes place and beyond.