town crier Bill Turberfield is hoping to represent Ledbury at the World Town Crier Championships in Australia in the autumn.

But first of all, Mr Turberfield needs to raise at least £3,000 to pay for air tickets to Marlborough, Queensland and for accommodation for himself and his wife, Enid.

Mrs Turberfield said: "If we only have enough money for Bill, then he will have to go alone. That is a possibility. But he will need support and someone to make sure his frills are neat, clean and tidy."

The event will take place from September 10-17 and will attract more than 100 criers from all over the world.

Mr Turberfield said that initial enquiries had revealed that he would probably be the only crier from Herefordshire at the event.

He is getting support from the community with bar collections taking place at the Royal Oak in Much Marcle.

Mrs Turberfield, who is helping to co-ordinate the fundraising drive, said a request for funding had just been submitted to Ledbury Town Council and she planned to approach the larger companies in town.

She said that they were able to self-fund attendance at competitions in the UK but not abroad.

Mr Turberfield is now such a familiar Ledbury figure that he features on postcards on sale in the Tourist Information Office.

He is also no stranger to top-flight competition, coming 58th out of the 90 town criers who attended the last World Championships at Newquay, Cornwall, in 2003.

Last year, he competed at an event in Bromyard and won the Ancient and Honourable Guild of Town Criers trophy, which he keeps until the summer.

Mrs Turberfield said: "There will be a lot of experienced criers there but Bill really enjoys what he does and there is always hope."

Anyone wishing to help Mr Turberfield can phone 01531 636446.