CIVIC leaders in Christchurch have been left with a conundrum after appointing a town crier without having an official outfit for them to wear.

Efforts to regain the historical town crier robes from a museum have proved more difficult than anticipated.

Members of Christchurch Town Council had hoped to source the outfit formerly used by Christchurch Borough Council’s town crier.

It was planned that this would be used by Christchurch Town Council’s new town crier, Jonny Rayner.

The outfit is currently at Winchester Museum but attempts to loan it from Hampshire Cultural Trust have been unsuccessful so far.

This could force the town council to find around £3,000 in funding for a new outfit after the Christchurch Business Improvement District offered sponsorship of £500 in exchange for their branding being placed on the outfit in the form of a badge.

Councillors at a town council meeting last month asked why the Hampshire Cultural Trust was refusing to return the outfit.

Bournemouth Echo: Wimborne Minister town crier Chris Brown in his traditional robesWimborne Minister town crier Chris Brown in his traditional robes

Minutes from the meeting say: “The town clerk informed members that the former town crier’s family had gifted the outfit, rather than loaned it, therefore the Hampshire Cultural Trust was unable to return it.”

Councillor Paul Hilliard suggested the outfit was returned on loan and that a budget of £500 should be appropriated for the Town Crier’s outfit.

Councillor Lesley Dedman proposed a motion to have a fall back option of spending up to £3,000 on a new outfit while investigations to return the original outfit are continues. This was backed by council members, with a vote of 14 in favour and one against.

Councillors also agreed to approve the creation of a deputy town crier at no cost. This position will be filled by the runner up of the recent town crier competition, Adam Coshan.

Members were told it was believed the deputy town crier would be able to provide his own outfit.