A mob of discerning townsfolk will help to pick the future town crier of Chester-le-Street.

The district council and the town's traders' association organised a competition for someone with a 'thunderous yet articulate voice and an approachable character - civic-minded, reliable and dignified' to spread news of events in the town.

After whittling down the candidates to the final seven, the competition organisers are now to throw the finalists in at the deep end.

On Saturday, October 26, the candidates will go before a crowd of local residents, whose reaction will be used to pick the area's first town crier in living memory.

Christine Davies, commercial manager for Chester-le-Street and Sacriston, said she needed as many people as possible to gather at the Market Place on Saturday next week to create a human 'clapometer.'

She said: "The public get to choose their favourite, the best crowd-pleaser, so we want a big crowd there."

The deadline for entry into the competition was put back until October 10 after a less than overwhelming response to the original deadline of September 27.

Although there were 20 applicants many were time-wasters and included schoolboys applying for a bet.

The winner will be equipped with about £2,000 worth of uniform, bell and scroll and will be expected to give about 16 performances a year, notifying the public of events.

The time of the Market Place contest has yet to be finalised.