A TOWN crier from County Durham has been competing in an international contest.

Chester-le-Street's Marjorie Dodds has spent the week at the second Lord Mayor of Chester's Invitational World Town Crier Tournament.

On Saturday, she took part in the first Ladies World Town Crier Tournament but lost to New Zealander Caroline Robinson.

She said: "People of Chester have been so generous. We have been entertained and fed all week.

"I would like to say a big thank you to traders who have donated so much to make this event a success.

"People are out in the streets and it is superb."

Mrs Dodds has done a home cry, a set cry and an advertising cry. The home cry was written for the tournament and pays tribute to her hometown Chester-le-Street.

Its lyrics include the lines:

"Not a city, just a town but similar to Chester in name and renown, for in the history of Chester-le-Street, Saxons, Romans and Christians meet. Saint Cuthbert lingered for a while, thence to Durham to be buried in style.

"The Lindisfarne Gospels lodged in Chester-le-Street where lowly monk, Aldred, transcribed them real neat.

"Today we thrive as a market town, castles, churches, living museums are found."