ILKLEY Town Crier Isabel Ashman came away with a special prize sponsored by the UK's oldest town crier Cyril Richardson when she attended a Town Crier competition in Nelson on Easter Saturday.

Isabel said: "It was a freezing cold day but we cried through the drizzle and the sub zero temperatures over two rounds. The first round was our home cry round, where the criers use the platform to extol the virtues of their home towns.

"The second round, always a theme set by the host Parish Council, was a cry about The Nelson Shuttle. A challenging subject to be original in ones cry. I am delighted to say I came away with a Special Prize sponsored by the UK's oldest town crier Cyril Richardson, so it was all worthwhile. The competition overall winner was The Otley Bellman, Terry Ford."