TARPORLEY has a new village voice.

An audio file that can be downloaded on to a computer or iPod or listened to over the internet.

Giles Cross says he was inspired to produce his Tarporley podcast by listening to Radio Five Live in the shower.

The 10 to 15 minute excerpts offer music, news and his views on issues affecting the area.

He said: 'I came up with the idea of doing the podcast At the beginning of the year.

'As soon as I figured out it was a good idea I went ahead with it. I had all the software and the equipmentI needed so I just sat in front of the microphone and started to talk.'

A former Tarporley High School student, he returned to this country from Los Angeles five years ago and now runs ink-n-paper offering website and graphic design from his High Street base.

Mr Cross, who produces his own music, has so far put three podcasts on the website - creating a big response.

'I'm not a local celebrity yet but a number of people have come up to me and mentioned the podcasts, I've also had e-mails and people coming into the shop,' he added.

He says the podcast has been listened to by people from 24 different countries.

He said: 'I've received e-mails from all sorts of people. I had one from a woman in San Francisco who attended the high school here.'

He is also planning to record his podcasts on to a CD that can be played in restaurants and other appropriate venues in the village.

* Parish councillors expressed concern about involving themselves in the project at their monthly meeting on Monday.

Chair of the parish council and Vale Royal borough councillor Tim Hill (Con, Tarporley and Oulton) said: 'In my book the elected representatives of the village are sitting round the table and I don't want anybody to come along and seize our elected right and duty as parish councillors.'

* For more details go to http://www.tarporleypodcast.com