DORCHESTER town crier Alistair Chisholm has won the National Town Criers Championship for an eighth time.

Alistair, 70, competed against 19 contestants from around the country and those from even further afield.

The event, now in its 63rd year, was held in Hastings last weekend and included criers from Frome, the Isle of Wight, the Netherlands, and Belgium.

Each crier was judged on volume, diction, clarity and inflection.

Alistair finished ahead of Jon Borthwick, from Peacehaven, and Andrew Fleming, from Swanage.

Alistair, who has been Dorchester’s town crier since 1997, said he was delighted to pick up the award.

He said: "There was some very, very good criers there. I recognise a good crier when I see one.

"I suppose part of what helps is if you write a good cry in the first place."

Alistair performed two cries in order to claim victory. The first cry, known as the 'home cry', meant Alistair had to give the story of Dorchester in 125 words.

The second cry had to be based on years of history, with a nod to the anniversary of Magna Carta and Battle of Britain among other events.

Alistair said he hadn't won the Championship for at least four years.

He said: "It was nice to be able to return and find I still have what it takes to perform well.

"It's an under recognised extreme sport."

When asked why he became town crier, he said: "I have no doubt at all if you see people living and portraying these periods it does remind people that they are not just old buildings.

"This brings this to life.

"I think it plays a part in reminding people that we haven't just got today but we also have yesterday and the past."

Having won the Championship for an eighth time, will Alistair compete again?

He said: "I may have to defend it next year. I look forward to it.

"They are a good bunch - the town criers.

"They are good fun and certainly this years no one was taking it too seriously. It was good company.

"It was nice having that international dimension as well."