ROYAL Wootton Bassett’s town crier will be shouting from the rooftops after he picked up another accolade at the weekend.

Owen Collier, 53, was delighted when he returned to the town at the weekend with the South of England Champion award in Dorset.

Mr Collier, who has been the town crier in the area since 2001, has become an integral part of the town with his voice being heard along the High Street every weekend.

He was among 19 town criers who attended the celebrations at the Georgian Fayre in Blandford, which was also attended by the town crier of Cape Town in South Africa.

As well as the competition, Owen was invited to the event, acting as the vice chairman of the Guild of Town Criers, to present Jean Wells, Blandford town crier and organiser of the South of Eng-land town criers competition, with a medal for long service.

Among the categories that Owen was judged for were the volume and clarity of his speech and the quality of the costume of wears.

His latest creation, commissioned by Royal Wootton Bassett Town Council, was customed made ahead of the market town being crowned with Royal status by Princess Anne last October.

The Napoleonic-inspired cloak and waistcoat were designed by Owen and includes a reversible maroon wool coat, a reversible red waistcoat, maroon breeches, handmade shoes and a black velvet tricorn hat.

Mr Collier was approached for the role by the mayor of Royal Wootton Bassett because he was used to dressing up with his background in medieval re-enactment.

He said: “It was a pleasure to get to take part in the day and to win the award, I was delighted.

“I like to be an active town crier in my town here.

“I am very proud of the town and it’s people, they should hold their heads up high and be proud of themselves. It is a great community.

“I never set out to be a town crier, my background is in medieval re-enactment, but I was approached by the mayor and I have relished the role.”