A TEA factory worker said she is in shock after being first past the post in a racecourse's best dressed lady contest.

Jill Dales, a customer operations administrator at the Tetley Tea factory, in Eaglescliffe, proved to be just the judges’ cup of tea at Thirsk Racecourse’s Ladies’ Day meeting, beating off around 100 women who had assembled in the parade ring for the competition.

She will go on to represent the racecourse in the final of the Go Racing in Yorkshire Best Dressed Lady 2015 contest, at Doncaster on October 24.

The Redcar resident’s winning outfit comprised a blue floral print dress, with capped sleeves and ruched waist, matched with a hatinator, featuring feathers and flowers from Bespoke Fascination of Guisborough, designed to match the dress.

The ensemble was completed by royal blue suede heels and matching suede clutch bag.

Her prizes included a gift voucher to the value of £300 for Barkers of Northallerton, a bottle of champagne and a bouquet of flowers.

The regular race-goer, who attended the meeting with friends, said: "We all love dressing up and a day at the races is the perfect opportunity to do this.

"When I saw the parade ring filling up I gave myself very little chance of winning, so when they called out my number I was absolutely amazed. Even now it still hasn’t quite sunk in."