THREE years ago Swindon's twin Nicaraguan town of Ocotal was ravaged by Hurricane Mitch.

Today the town has recovered and is well on the way to being rebuilt thanks to a big helping hand from the people of Swindon.

Mayor David Cox has just returned from an official trip to Ocotal and he brought back with him a Christmas thank you message to the people of the town.

It says simply: "We thank you all in Swindon for your support and help over the years and we will always be grateful."

Coun Cox travelled to Ocotal to take part in a special ceremony to mark 10 years of civic twinning between the two towns.

And while he was there he was able to see first hand how money sent from Swindon has been used to help rebuild and improve Ocotal after the devastion caused by Hurricane Mitch.

He said: "Wherever I went people came up to me and said how much they appreciated all the support they had received from local people here in Swindon.

"Despite all they have had to endure the people of Ocotal are a very dignified people and are doing what they can to help themselves.

"The money and aid sent from Swindon has been of great help, but there again, I believe our town is second to none when it comes to helping people who cry out for help in different circumstances."

Coun Cox has handed over £500 from his own Mayor's charities fund which is now being used to help finance the running of an old people's home in Ocotal which looks after 27 elderly men and women.

He said: "These people are mostly the last descendants of their families and would normally be out living rough on the streets.

"They were very grateful and happy to see us, and in spite of everything do their best to be self reliant. They all have little jobs, such as one man who looks after chickens for fresh eggs, and they do what they can to raise money to buy food.

"It was refreshing to go into the home it is the only one like it in Nicaragua and see what a dignified place it is.

"Everything is kept clean and they have just built a chapel inside the building."

Although the link between the towns' two councils has been operating for 10 years the twinning has been running on a people-level for 15 years.

And during this time Swindon has done much to help the poor Central American town.

At no time was this more evident than when Hurricane Mitch all but destroyed Ocotal in 1998.

As soon as it happened the Swindon Ocotal Link (SOL) organised a big appeal fund which raised a magnificent £27,000.

Later the Evening Advertiser launched its own appeal and as a result five tonnes of goods donated by Swindon people was flown out to the disaster area by a Hercules from RAF Lyneham.

As a result of the cash aid sent from Swindon a new health centre has been built in Ocotal and the money has also been used to help build a new housing estate to replace the shanty homes that were demolished by the hurricane.

With the Mayor on the trip were the Mayoress Jenny Dean, Bruce Clarke, chairman of SOL, and two other members of the organisation, Maria Morrison and Karen Mayell.

Said the Mayoress: "It was absolutely amazing to see how the people of Ocotal live. Their hospitality was amazing and they never take anything for granted."

During the visit Edward Centano, the Mayor of Ocotal, presented Coun Cox with the keys to the town.

"It is the biggest civic honour any council can give, and I believe we are the first people from outside Nicaragua to have been given this honour," said Coun Cox.

He plans to send more money from his charity fund to Ocotal and said that anyone who would like to give donations can do so through the mayor's parlour at the civic offices.