A HAMPSHIRE town has raised funds for families living near its namesake community in tornado-hit Oklahoma.

Ringwood was already planning to celebrate its ties with Ringwood, USA, when parts of Oklahoma were devastated by killer winds.

Now cash collected during a Wild West day will be sent across the Atlantic to help rebuild shattered homes.

Residents swelled the collection by having a Yankee Doodle Dandy of a day. Thar was plenty of rootin' tootin' and pistol-shootin' when a bunch of rowdy cowboys moseyed down the trail to the quiet cattle town beside the Rio Avon.

Steers were roped, broncos bucked and goodtime gals provided the kicks for bar-room brawlers sipping whisky in the saloon.

The townsfolk even formed a posse to round up a crooked congressman and throw him into the horse trough.

It was High Noon for Desmond Swayne, better known as New Forest West MP, when he was marched at gun-point to the town square for trial on charges of horse-stealing, cattle rustling, womanising and not doing enough for his constituents.

The mob called for a hanging, but the judge ordered desperate Des to be dunked in the trough - probably the first and only time he could ever be accused of being a Tory wet.

Organiser Belinda Charlton said a money order would be sent to Oklahoma.

Oklahoma's governor, Frank Keating, and his press secretary, John Cox, said they were "very appreciative" of the cash coming from England.

Mr Cox said: "A lot of the money being raised over here is going towards replacing the 7,000 homes destroyed by the tornadoes."

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