Residents in the eastern German village of Quellendorf have voted to dismiss their mayor, who declared himself to be a transsexual in June and said he was planning a sex-change operation.

The mayor, who changed his name from Norbert to Michaela Lindner, was rejected by a two-to-one majority.

Lindner, a member of the formerly communist Party of Democratic Socialism, had resisted dismissal saying it was sex discrimination since his work had been exemplary.

The ballotwas instigated by eight village councillors who said the mayor's personal problems have led him to neglect his duties and brought unwelcome publicity to Quellendorf.