Redruth's teenage town crier looking for a makeover

Max Morrison, 18, is Redruth's town crier

A teenage town crier from Cornwall is hoping a more modern outfit will give the role a new lease of life.

Max Morrison, 18, became Redruth Town Crier last year but the traditional garb does not fit him very well.

It has been described as "a very tired 20th Century pastiche of a Poldark costume".

Now Mr Morrison is getting a brand new outfit, called the Story Coat - set to be unveiled on St Piran's Day on 5 March.

The Story Coat, being designed by a group of artists in the town, has received a lot of support on social media

Mr Morrison told BBC Radio Cornwall he enjoyed the attention the town crier role garnered - but the old maroon and gold regalia "looks like a large red curtain with gold braid".

He said he wanted to make the town crier outfit "a little bit less fake".

"There's no concrete reason that town criers still dress like this, and a lot of what this is trying to play on is a style of clothing that kind of never really existed.

"So, the like mock Victorian, Edwardian thing is far more leaning towards the pantomime than the actual reality.

"People didn't really ever dress like this, so there's no point, in our modern age, of still trying to do that, right?"

Mr Morrison said he had wanted to be Redruth's town crier since he was 13 years old - and had persistently been in contact with the town clerk over the years, until eventually being appointed to the role.

Hetty Bevington is making the buttons for the new coat, here's an example of her work

Redruth artist Sue Hill is leading the project to replace the coat.

"At the moment it's a very tired 20th Century pastiche of a Poldark costume," she said.

Ms Hill said "the previous criers were much larger gentlemen".

"We've been on a bit of a journey with this, with Max and also with Redruth Town Council - who have been amazing."

The new coat will feature a printed silk lining, Redruth artist Tony Minnion has been collecting images from local people to use in the lining print.

Ms Hill added: "We feel the story coat will tell the town's stories, old and new, through embroidery, applique and printing."