TRADERS in Durham are seeking someone to become the voice of the city.

Durham City Forum wants to re-introduce the ancient post of town crier and is holding a competition to find the ideal person.

The competition will be held in the Market Place on Saturday, November 8.

Town criers once played an important role, imparting news and official proclamations.

Today, many towns and cities appoint criers to appear at special events.

Colin Wilkes, of the Forum, said: "We are not looking for somebody who can shout. We want someone who can speak clearly and articulately, has a knowledge of the city and its history, is civic-minded and can act as an ambassador.

"It will be a voluntary post and we want someone who can appear at events, such as the festivals that we hold.

"Our preference is that the person lives within the city boundaries. There is no bar on age or sex. So far, we have had about a dozen expressions of interest.''

Competitors will be interviewed and deliver a two-minute speech from the town hall balcony.

The judges will be David Mitchell, of Chester, secretary of the Loyal Company of Town Criers, Durham Mayor, Councillor Ray Gibbon, and Ron Batty, manager of the Forum.

For an application form, call Angela Colbridge on 0191-386 3050.

The Forum hopes sponsorship will fund the crier's livery.

The Loyal Company's annual town crier contest will be held in Durham next year.