A NORTH Lancashire town's appeal for a new town crier has fallen on deaf ears.

The contest arranged by Carnforth Town Council for Saturday, July 8 to choose a new crier had to be postponed due to lack of entries.

The traditional civic post has been unfilled since the death of popular town crier Frank Barton in November 2014. Described as a "devoted servant" of Carnforth, the 83-year-old former mayor was a familiar figure at local events in his 18th century style tricorne hat, bright blue coat, lace ruffles and buckled shoes.

The town council has been seeking the help of the Ancient and Honourable Guild of Town Criers in its search for a new proclaimer.

Meanwhile, Cllr Malcolm Watkins has written a special competition 'cry' to celebrate Carnforth's beauty, history and location.

"We haven't had any entrants so we've put the competition back till September 9," Carnforth town clerk Philip Charnley told the Gazette.

"We are going to try and intensify our advertising. We will put it in our newsletter and make some big posters and put them up in the town.

"Somebody's got to want to be a town crier. For a rather extrovert person with a good, big voice, it's such fun. I know Frank really enjoyed it."

The competition is to take place in the town's War Memorial Gardens. "It does unfortunately suffer from a little bit of traffic noise so they will have to get over the top of that," said Mr Charnley.

"One of our town councillors sat down and wrote a cry; it's about 150 words and it ends with God Save The Queen. It's very good and we are ready - we just need some entrants."

The proclamation written by Cllr Watkins for the contest extols Carnforth's floral displays "on verges and in baskets", its railway heritage and its closeness to the Arnside and Silverdale AONB.

Cllr Barton began proclaiming at town events in 1988, accompanied by the peal of his handbell. After his death, town clerk Mr Charnley told the Gazette: "It would be hard to find somebody who loved the town more. If there is somebody, I think I have yet to meet them."

As Carnforth town crier, the retired wagon driver travelled across the country and to Canada and Australia to compete, always paying his own costs.

He served on the committee of the Ancient and Honourable Guild of Town Criers and joined its board of directors.

A founder member of Carnforth and District Twinning Association, he visited twin town Sailly-sur-la-Lys on many occasions, when he invariably wore his crier's regalia.