A COMPETITOR from down under was crowned the winner in the first town crier competition to be staged in Dalton-in-Furness.

Seven people from around the country, including Stafford and Warwickshire, bellowed out from the Market Cross on Sunday in a bid to win the first ever Furness and South Lakeland Town Crier championships.

But it was Judy Campbell, from Chuck and Moama, in Australia, who impressed the judges and claimed first prize. She was presented with an engraved crystal goblet.

Town crier for Dalton and Barrow Alan Brown organised the event. He said Miss Campbell was in England as she had been taking part in the world town criers' competition in Newquay, which attracted more than 90 competitors.

He said: "I wasn't one of the judges so I can't say why she won but I think her impression of an Australian bird at the end of her first cry could have swayed it - it was brilliant."

The championship was held following a parade of the competitors from Tudor Square led by Dalton Town Band.

"There were not as many people there as I would have liked but the ones that did turn up were enthusiastic," said Mr Brown. "The town criers who took part have asked me to make it a regular event so each year I hope it will grow in size, as more people will get to hear about it," he said.

May 29, 2003 14:00