BROMYARD'S 10th annual festival of town criers was tinged with sadness as the event was the swansong of the colourful character who made it happen.

Peter Dauncey, whose efforts generated publicity in upmarket magazines and helped to put the town on the map, has stepped down as festival organiser and as the Bromyard Town Crier.

He and his wife Joan - a former Bromyard mayor - have recently moved to Melksham, Wiltshire. They have a son in the area and Peter has taken on the crier's role in his new town.

"The festival marked 14 years to the day of my becoming town crier and it was all very emotional," said Mr Dauncey, a 68-year-old grandfather.

Holding back the tears, he handed over his crier's staff of office, bell, and gold badges depicting St Peter's Church to his successor, Peder Nielson.

Mr Dauncey, who has lived in the area for 40 years, also stepped down as a Herefordshire councillor last week.

Twenty-eight criers, including one from Belgium, attended the Bromyard festival and 25 were put through their paces in a competition. Bromsgrove crier Kevin Ward won Saturday's heats with Leominster's Dave Taylor, runner up, taking the prize for best-dressed crier. Overall winner of the weekend was Carole Williams from Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire.