Oyez, oyez, oyez!

The very first Otley Open Town Crier competition is about to get underway - and it will honour the town’s most famous son.

Eleven criers from across the country will gather in the Market Place on Sunday, September 23 to put their vocal skills to the test.

The contest will involve each competitor delivering two cries - a ‘hometown’ one in the morning and a ‘subject cry’ in the afternoon.

The topic for the subject cry will be Thomas Chippendale, the master cabinet maker who was born in Otley 300 years ago.

Chair of Otley Town Council’s Trade and Tourism committee, Councillor Paul Carter, said: “Given we have our own multi award-winning town crier, Otley Bellman Terry Ford, we thought it important to help preserve this time-honoured tradition by hosting our own competition in conjunction with the Loyal Company of Town Criers.

“We look forward to welcoming town criers from around the country and hosting a successful event at which members of the public are welcome to join in.”

The event (entry is free) starts at 11.15am and finishes at 4.30pm .