Do you have what it takes to become a town crier?

One of the longest-serving town criers in England is accepting applications for a new deputy.

The town crier and serjeant at mace of Seaford, East Sussex, Peter White, wants to pass on his experience to a deputy who could eventually take over when he retires.

He told the BBC the successful applicant would be someone "who can be respected, who can be heard, who is prepared to stand up for their town, and also occasionally take a few jokes at their expense".

Prospective criers have until 15 February to apply, ahead of auditions on 28 February.

According to the job advert, applicants must be over 18 years old, living in the town and "knowledgeable of Seaford's history and local traditions".

They should be "willing to appear in traditional costume and perform outdoors in all weathers" and have "strong vocal projection and clear diction", it reads.

The ceremonial role is unpaid and its holder must "enhance community pride, promote civic events and maintain the unique character of Seaford".

White, who has held the role since 1977, said: "Probably we're talking about somebody who might take over the post when I've had enough, or the town has had enough of me."

Despite nearing five decades in the job, four criers elsewhere in the UK have held their roles longer, according to White.

"If it wasn't good fun and if you weren't totally mad then you wouldn't do it," he said.

White told the BBC recent years had seen an increase in the number of criers as "various royal and national events" attracted towns to appointing them.

Unusually, White also holds the town crier post for the German town Bönningstedt, near Hamburg, after a visit to what is Seaford's twin town.

"The mayor was so taken with the idea of having one of these curious people attached to his town that I was presented with a vellum scroll within an hour and told that I was the stadtausrufer of Bönningstedt," White said.

He was later made the town crier of Crivitz in the east of Germany when it became twinned with Bönningstedt as they "rather liked the idea as well".

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