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

About 20 upholders of the ancient tradition hope they will be in with a shout of being declared the best in Britain.

Durham recently revived the post of town crier - it is held by former Mayor Colin Beswick - and was chosen by the Loyal Company of Town Criers to host the annual championships.

The competition will be held on Saturday, on Palace Green and in the Market Place, as part of the city's Summer Festival, and is expected to prove a big draw.

Secretary of the Loyal Company David Mitchell, town crier for Chester, said: "I would say Durham is a near perfect location for the competition. What you want is a historic background and a good turnout of shoppers and tourists. Town criers, like all performers, perform better with a crowd in front of them."

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

Between 11.15am and 1.15pm, competitors will deliver a cry about their home town. Then, at 2.15pm, they will return to the Market Place to give a cry about a food or craft from their home town.

The winner will be announced from the Town Hall balcony, between 4.30pm and 4.45pm.

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

The winners will get specially-made glass sculptures.

The criers, who are all sponsored by local firms, will be announced by Durham Local Radio. The event is sponsored by the Prince Bishops Shopping Centre and Newsquest North-East, publisher of The Northern Echo.

Mr Mitchell believes East Riding's Michael Wood, from Hull, who is also crier for Hollywood, California, could win the title for the second year running.

"There are several good criers but Michael will be favourite again. There was a lot of clear water when he won last year, and I can say that as I finished second," said Mr Mitchell.

Mr Mitchell's wife, Julie, crier for Knutsford in Cheshire, will also be competing, as will Chester-le-Street's Marjorie Dodds, who has competed in the Lord Mayor of Chester's International Town Crier Competition and the first Ladies Town Crier Tournament.

Durham's own crier cannot take part because the city is hosting the competition.

Colin Wilkes, of Durham City Forum, which organises the summer festival, 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."

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