Few shoppers in Newton Abbot town centre last Saturday could have missed the colourful and noisy spectacle which is the annual town criers' competition.

A total of 23 members of the Ancient and Honourable Guild of Town Criers made their pitch outside Austin's department store in Courtenay Street.

An early form of news media, crying dates back centuries. Competitors had to fashion two cries. The 'Home Cry' in which each crier promoted their own home town. The afternoon cry on a subject of the host town's choosing was this year about John Lethbridge's Diving Machine.

The winner was Carol Williams from Bishops Stortford, second place went to Paul Gough from Nuneaton and Bedworth and third place to Chris Brown from Wimbourne Minster. All winners received a trophy, a certificate and monetary prize donated by Lord of the Borough Keith Stokes Smith.

Austins awarded prizes for best dressed escort and couple. Best dressed escort went to Daisy Craner from Crewkerne and best couple went to Roy and Bea Goodwin from Ilfracombe. Best dressed crier also went to Mr Goodwin.