Auditions for a historic town role will be held in public. 

Candidates hoping to become the new town crier of Dorchester will step into the spotlight on Wednesday, March 6 at 1.30pm to perform self-penned cries around the town.

It is believed that the early stage of the interviews will take place earlier in the day at the Council Chamber on High West Street before around six to seven candidates will perform a cry they wrote themselves. The cries must be up to 125 words long about a certain topic, starting with 'Oyez, Oyez, Oyez' and ending in 'God Save the King'.

The cries will take place outside Barclays Bank on South Street and then again at Brewery Square for a second performance.

The panel of judges will include retiring town crier, the mayor of Dorchester, Alistair Chisholm.

Cllr Chisholm had much success as a crier, equalling the record for competition wins as a crier. He publicly announced his retirement from the role after 27 years in December during the town’s Christmas Cracker event. His final cry was on New Year’s Eve.

Other members of the judging panel are set to include town councillors Stella Jones, David Taylor and Janet Hewitt.

Cllr Chisholm told the Echo that everyone is invited to come along on the day.

He said: “We’d like the candidate to know that more people are coming to Dorset, as the county town has plenty to absorb. Dorset Museum is a treasure trove, as well as the history within the Shire Hall, the Celtic hill forts and the Roman remains.”