Chester will host this year's World Town Crier Tournament later this month, bringing together 25 town criers from across eight nations for a week-long public event.

Starting on September 21, the competition will feature three dedicated competition days, with the winner crowned the world's best.

Day one at Town Hall Square will feature "Hometown Cry" performances, judged on vocal strength, confidence, presentation and audience engagement, with additional awards for best-dressed participants.

Day two (24 September) at Eastgate Square will feature a second themed round, with scores kept confidential until the final results.

The event concludes on day three (26 September) at Exchange Square, where combined scores will determine the overall champion alongside a Best Ambassador award.

House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle recently recorded a good luck message to the global competitors after hearing about the event in the House of Commons chamber from Sam Dixon, the Labour MP for Chester North and Neston, who is also one of the celebrity judges.

He said: "Order! Order! I would say. What a fantastic venue: Chester within the walls of the city of Chester.

"The history is there for all the town criers. I wish you well with good voice. All the best to all who applied to be the winner."

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A non-celebrity panel of published authors, school directors and businesspeople will score on vocal proficiency, confidence, bearing, content and audience engagement, with results kept under wraps until Saturday's final.

In addition to the main contest, each day a celebrity panel, which as well as Sam, includes TV presenter Lucy Meacock and Corrie star Ian Puleston-Davies, will pick and announce their favourite.

Organised by Chester's own town crier, David Mitchell, and Marketing Cheshire, it will be the first time the city has staged the competition since 2014, with entrants travelling from the UK, Europe, Australia, Canada and the United States.

Marketing Cheshire secured a grant from Airbnb's Best of British Fund to stage the event, helping to showcase the city to a national and international audience.

Jamie Christon, Chair of Marketing Cheshire and CEO of Chester Zoo, said: "It's fantastic to have Sir Lindsay's support for the World Town Crier Tournament in Chester. The event is shaping up to be unforgettable.

"As Sir Lindsay himself says, Chester is a fantastic place to be hosting this Tournament with its rich history and many cultural venues. We are looking forward to putting on a spectacle and welcoming visitors from all around the world."

The city's town criers, David and Julie Mitchell, deliver civic welcomes in 15 languages and perform regular proclamations across the city centre between June and September.