Former child star Rodney Allen Rippy has officially joined the race for Mayor of Compton, California.

The actor, who made his film debut as the young Bart in Blazing Saddles, has been nominated to run for city office in April's (13) election.

If elected, Rippy plans to create community programmes throughout the city, which has a long history of Los Angeles gang crime.

He says, "I've been asked, 'Why Compton?' Why not? This is the city that needed me the most."