Town crier David Craner has been crowned a crying champion after winning a local competition worth shouting about.

David, 67, has been town crier of Beaminster for six years but is also town crier for Crewkerne in Somerset and Seaton in Devon.

At a contest in Newton Abbot, David, who refers to himself as Sir Walter Raleigh re-incarnated, battled it out with 18 criers from the length and breadth of the country.

Together with their costumed escorts, the criers made a colourful spectacle in the town and despite fierce competition, Mr Craner was awarded The Devon County Champion for 2014.

He also walked away with trophies for first place in the best dressed crier, and third place in the rounds.

David said: “I was proud to represent Seaton in a town crying competition. It was just my luck that I was drawn number one, the position least liked by most criers.

“And when the results came in I was completely dumbstruck, I could have cried with joy.

“Now I really am proud to be part of the wonderful resort of Seaton, as well as Beaminster and Crewkerne.”

The town crier competition comprised two rounds, the first being a home town cry where the criers tell all about their towns and why others should visit.

The second round was a free choice with cries on any subject of the criers choosing and which David chose to cry about growing old.

The criers were marked on various criteria such as sustained volume, clarity, diction and inflection.

David, who lives in Bridport, is a retired school site manager.

Formerly a morris dancer and a keen enthusiast for English traditions, it was while travelling to carry out his duties as crier in the Somerset town that he always drove through Beaminster.

“I always thought that a town like Beaminster would really benefit from a town crier so I approached the town clerk and eventually it was agreed that I should carry out the role.”

Mayor of Seaton Gaynor Sedgwick said: “I am so pleased that following the success of the town criers competition held in Seaton David Craner went on to win the prestigious Devon County Champion competition in Newton Abbott.

“David is a great ambassador for Seaton and we are proud that he is considered to be the best town crier in Devon.”