Keighley Town Crier Mike Walton has plenty to shout about.

He took part in his first ever competition on Saturday - and came away with a trophy.

Mike waxed lyrical against 15 other town criers from around the country in an annual championship at Blackpool, and won third spot.

"There were some long-established town criers there and my intention was to go along to look and learn from the experienced boys," said Mike, who took up his role last year. "When they announced I was third I couldn't believe it - for once I was virtually speechless!

"I never expected to get a result. It's marvellous."

Competitors had to recite two pieces - one promoting the virtues of their home town, and the other on the theme "Blackpool - the Las Vegas of Britain" - and they were judged on a range of attributes, from volume and clarity to stature. The competition was staged as a curtain raiser to the hugely popular Tram Sunday, at Fleetwood, and during the weekend the town criers took part in processions through Blackpool and rode on a vintage tram.

Mike is now investigating the possibility of a town crier competition locally, possibly in Haworth. He said: "It would give a boost to tourism, helping to bring people into the area and providing an additional attraction for visitors.

"At the moment it is just an idea, but it is something I will be looking at."