A NATIONAL competition has been launched to find the new voice of the speaking clock.

Telecoms giant BT is looking for a new voice for the telephone service to mark the 80th anniversary of the Speaking clock.

The winner will become the fifth person to announce the time “at the third stroke” when people dial 123.

Brightonian Sara Mendes da Costa is the current voice of the speaking clock after winning a competition in 2007.

She said: “It’s been very much part of my life since childhood - it was the first call I was allowed to make.

“I am very proud to be the fourth permanent voice for the speaking clock.”

Miss Mendes da Costa, 49, credits the role for helping her career.

The voice-over artist said: “It has changed things as I’m now in the public eye a lot more. People recognise me in restaurants and recognise my name.”

Ms Mendes da Costa, 49, will now be a judge in the competition to find the new voice.

Her predecessor the late actor Brian Cobby was also from Brighton and lived in Vernon Gardens.

The Speaking Clock gives the time every ten seconds at any time of day and night. The service was launched in 1936 for people who wanted to know the time but did not have a watch or clock to hand.

Today the service is accurate within five thousands of a second and costs 45p a minute from a BT landline - making BT a staggering £21 million.

Entrants have just one week to send their application before the competition closes on Monday 29th of August and is open to anyone aged 10 or over.

The winner will be announced in November on the BBC’s The One Show in aid of Children in Need 2016.

David Hay, head of BT Heritage, said: “Eighty years ago BT's technology created the Speaking Clock which remains a much loved part of British life today. The Speaking Clock has reached octogenarian status and celebrating its birthday demonstrates BT's determination to preserve the heritage of the world's oldest communications company.”