TROWBRIDGE town centre echoed to the sound of town criers on Saturday when it played host to a national competition.

Wiltshire's county town was chosen for the venue of the Ancient and Honourable Guild of Town Criers a national championship that attracted 25 entrants from all over Britain and one from Holland.

Sporting colourful outfits, the criers paraded through the park en route to the town centre for the heats in the competition.

Judged on volume, clarity, dignity, diction and inflection, a shortlist of six criers were chosen.

After a short delay while a wedding service took place in nearby St James's Church, the final six bellowed out their challenges.

With a cry about charity Derbyshire crier George Walden took top honours with Jason Bell from Cromer second and Phil Seddon from Warminster third.

Trowbridge crier Trevor Heeks said: "It was a close contest, with only a sixth of a point separating the top three."