FLEXING their trigger fingers inches from their holsters, gunslingers Clem Smith and Deputy Dog gazed at each other through the clouds of acrid pistol smoke.

Suddenly the gunmen saw red and they went for their six-shooters, blazing away at each other across a packed marquee.

But instead of one of the rivals collapsing in a bloodied heap riddled with lead, the judge calmly announced the winner of Calne's Country Music Festival quick draw competition and the two cowboys smiled and clasped hands.

The 28 competitors lined up 15 yards apart, two at a time, and waited for a red bulb, placed between them, to flash before drawing and firing their guns, which were loaded with blanks.

A sound-sensitive electronic device detected who fired first in each best of three round.

The quick draw competition and the fastest draw time were won this year by Securicor courier Clem Smith, 54, of Woodroffe Square, who organises the festival each year with his 57-year-old wife Jean, who works as a carer.

"It's all about reactions," Mr Smith said. "I'm quite pleased to have won because I haven't won for a couple of years now. But I'm happier about getting as many people involved as we did, that means more to me."

Cowboys from across the UK put on their leather chaps, Stetsons and spurs and strapped on their gun belts before riding onto the Beversbrook Showground for the festival's 14th annual showdown on July 4, 5 and 6.

There were Davey Crockett characters dressed in furs and a Doc Holiday complete with medical bag and silver tankard whooping side by side with Navajo Indians, Confederate and Union colonels and other cowboys with names ranging from Crazy Dave to Ringo.

More than 300 tents and camper vans set up camp at the three-day event in a prairie next to the showground, displaying southern flags and the stars and stripes.

But as the bullets flew, snatches of country music could be heard across the range, including Don Mclean's classic American Pie and hits from the queen of country, Dolly Parton.

The crowds were keen to catch a glimpse of the event's first ever American act to play at the music festival, ace Texas fiddler John Parmenter.

Hundreds of people sat in their deckchairs in front of the stage to listen to Mr Parmenter's band and many couples got up to dance when the foot tapping became too much.

The Texan was ably supported by the Paul Martin Band, Little Rock, Country Caillin and many other British country bands.

Mr Smith, who founded Calne's Charity Country Music Club, which meets in the Football Social Club on the second night of each month, said: "We've got about 1,000 people in each year and we had one ex-pat couple who came all the way from Portugal. To get people coming from that far away shows we must be doing something right."

Robin Sanderson, 72, from Devon, whose cowboy name is Cody, said: "We love coming here, it's the collection of people we love. We always meet up with people we haven't seen since the year before and catch up with each other's news."

The festival raises funds for Calne's Community Transport, which provides transport for elderly and disabled people with special transport needs. Last year's festival raised £3,000 for the charity.