MIDDLEWICH will host the inaugural version of its very own town crier competition this weekend.

The event is the first of what is hoped will be an annual event, after the town hosted a successful British national competition last year.

Resident crier Devlin Hobson will take up the role of master of ceremonies, bringing together 13 competitors and their escorts from across the UK to battle for the Middlewich Trophy.

Proceedings will kick off at 11am on Saturday in the White Bear courtyard, spilling onto Wheelock Street to coincide with the monthly Maker’s Market.

In what is described as a loud and colourful extravaganza, the criers will be judged on sustained volume and clarity, diction and inflection, confidence and bearing, accuracy and audience engagement.

The morning will see a Home Cry round where all criers will promote their home town, while all competitors will perform Confessions of a Hand bell in the afternoon.