GENEROUS Whittlesey residents have given around �5,000 to the town s Australian namesake which was designated as a relief centre after the recent devastating bush fires. Whittlesey Town Council kick started the appeal with a �1,000 donation and kind-heart

GENEROUS Whittlesey residents have given around �5,000 to the town's Australian namesake which was designated as a relief centre after the recent devastating bush fires.

Whittlesey Town Council kick started the appeal with a �1,000 donation and kind-hearted residents have given the rest.

On Tuesday all the money was collected from buckets in local shops and added to donations which had been taken to the town hall.

After the count up Councillor Ken Mayor said: "It is absolutely excellent. Whittlesey Town Council would like to thank all the citizens of the town for their brilliant support for the appeal."

Cllr Mayor said some organisations in the town were sending their own donations to opposite numbers in Whittlesea, Australia.

Whittlesea in Australia came to the aid of the Fenland town after the Second World War when it sent food parcels to help people cope with the continuing rationing. However the association between the two towns goes back to the 1800s when a surveyor from Whittlesey was sent out to Australia. The surveyor general of Victoria also had a great interest in the draining of the swamp at Whittlesey Mere.

Whittlesea Mayor Mary Lalios has called the appeal a beautiful gesture. She said: "It was really uplifting and was just what we needed".