Hang on to your cowboy hats because in deepest, darkest Sussex there lies a wild secret.

Wild West, that is. For in the depths of a forest near Horsham a group of country and western lovers have built their own town called Deadwood.

People from all over Sussex have helped construct the town, which recreates life in 19th Century America.

All trappings of modern life are banned and residents walk around the streets in full cowboy attire, dropping into the saloon for a whisky or the hardware store to pick up a rifle.

There is a bank, a school, a blacksmith's forge and a church.

If they are hungry they can get beef stew and dumplings at Frenchie's Eating Place. But they had better be careful not to cross the sheriff or they could end up in the jail.

The town is the brainchild of Colin Bradford, a dedicated Wild West fan who likes nothing better than leaving behind his home in Moulsecoomb, Brighton, for a weekend at Deadwood.

Colin, 60, said: "It was all woodland when we started seven years ago. We cleared the land and different people brought the wood and helped with the building.

"I wanted to create somewhere people could go to get a real feeling for the old Wild West.

"Deadwood is a wonderful place, there's nowhere else like it. Everyone knows each other, if not by name then by sight. There are no rules or regulations, people come to relax."

The last Deadwood building was finished this year and the townsfolk are keen to show off their work to anyone who wants to have a look. The town, made up of about ten wooden huts along a main street, is like a living museum.

Walk into any of the buildings and you are greeted by people in costume.

During the week they are members of the Spirit of the West club in Brighton, doing daily jobs as bus drivers, housewives and police officers. In Deadwood they become 19th Century pioneering American settlers.

The jailhouse has a marshal, a cell, and Wanted posters on the walls.

The saloon is one of the most popular places, complete with swinging doors and friendly barmaids who top up tankards with liquor.

There is also a Trading Post shop, where people can sell or swap items such as gas lamps and pots and pans.

Mobile phones are banned, as are newspapers, TV and radio. Anyone caught wearing a wristwatch is fined.

Getting into character extends to adopted names, such as Kettle Alice, Curly Bill and White Owl.

Derek Lewry, known as Papa Bear, said: "When you're here the outside world doesn't exist. It's like we've never grown up and with this kind of lifestyle you don't need to."

Shopkeeper Mike Pottinger, known in Deadwood as Jake Slade, has been a country and western fan for about 30 years.

When not running the Trading Post, he is a van driver in Uckfield. He also spends hours trawling car boot sales for antiques to sell in his shop.

Mike, 62, said: "I love it, it's an unbelievable place with a great atmosphere."

Nightly entertainment includes line dancing and live country and western music.

At weekends about 100 people usually stay overnight in caravans in a nearby field at Wattlehurst Farm, Kingsfold.

Lesley Owen, who is a WPC in Brighton, said: "I love the music and the line dancing. I've been coming to Deadwood since it started."

Sarah Waring, who helps run the saloon, said: "It's all good fun. In the evening we light gas lamps and sit around the fire. And it is a great place for the kids during the day. They are free to run around the town or the farm and you know they are always safe."

The motto in Deadwood's saloon sums it up pretty well - "There are no strangers here, only friends".

For more details, call Colin on 01273 701152 or log on to www.spiritofthewestbrighton.fsnet.co.uk