SOME of the country's loudest voices will ring out in Durham this weekend as the city hosts the National Town Crier Championships.

Saturday's event, on Palace Green and in the Market Place, forms part of the annual Summer Festival and is expected to draw a large crowd for the performances of the 20 contestants.

The event starts at 10.30am when the criers, Mayor Mary Hawgood and her bodyguard will process from the Town Hall to Palace Green.

Between 11.15am and 1.15pm the competitors will deliver a cry about their home town.

At 2.15pm they will return to the Market Place to give a cry about a food or craft from their home town. The overall winner will be announced between 4.30 and 4.45pm from the Town Hall balcony.

The criers will be judged by a team of experts for things such as diction, clarity and accuracy.

The winners will receive specially-made glass sculptures.

The criers, who are all sponsored by local firms, will be announced by Durham Local Radio.

The event, which is staged by the Loyal Company of Town Criers, is sponsored by the Prince Bishops Shopping Centre and Newsquest North-East, publishers of The Advertiser.

Colin Wilkes, of the Durham City Forum, said: "We are delighted to have the opportunity to host this prestigious event.

"It is something a little bit different, a little bit quirky and we think it will capture the imagination of people wandering around the city."

Chester-le-Street's town crier, Marjorie Dodds, is among the competitors. However, Durham's own crier, former Mayor Colin Beswick, cannot take part because the city is the host.

The festival, on Saturday and Sunday, will feature a wide variety of music and street entertainment, food, craft and gift stalls.

Visitors to the festival can also enjoy an Anglo Saxon re-enactment group and falconry displays, all on Palace Green, the regular Eurocrafts exhibition in the Town Hall and a Rock It climbing Wall in the Prince Bishops Shopping Centre.

On both days Milburngate Shopping Centre will host displays of guide dog puppies and birds of prey.

Shoppers will be able to use the park and ride bus service from County Hall.

Full details are available in a brochure available at the city's Tourist Information Centre, Millennium Place, Claypath.