Haslemere town crier Christian Ashdown has won the best crier and best dressed crier awards at the south of England’s town criers’ competition.

The competition was held at Wareham, Dorset, and the awards were handed out by the mayor of Wareham, Councillor Malcolm Russell, in the town hall.

Christian competed against town criers from Seaford, Arundel, Bognor Regis, Swanage, Honiton, Melksham, Frome, Bridport, Dorchester, Warwick and Hatherleigh Manor in the competition.

He said: “I performed a cry about how wonderful Haslemere is, and then I performed a second cry which had to incorporate King Alfred as the theme.”

Christian is set to compete in another town crier competition in Windsor later this month.