Oyez, oyez, ringing in the festival

Paddy-Ann Pemberton may be a little hoarse today, after spending the bulk of her weekend crying in Arrowtown.

• Arrowtown Autumn Festival slideshow here

The Central Otago town crier attended the opening weekend of the 30th Arrowtown Autumn Festival, ringing in the festival.

Mrs Pemberton said she had been crying since 2002, first spending 10 years as the Gore town crier.

In August she will head to Chester, in the United Kingdom, to encourage criers to travel to Alexandra in September 2015 for the first international tournament being held alongside the Blossom Festival.