The mayor of the Dutch city of Maastricht, Gerd Leers, stepped down on Wednesday evening when he lost the support of the city council over a private investment affair.

Mr Leers, a fervent anti-corruption campaigner, had privately bought a holiday villa in Romania which was never built, upon which he abused his position as mayor to put pressure on the shareholders of the holiday camp.

An independent inquiry into his involvement in the affair, and that of a top civil servant in Maastricht, was not able to clear him. A majority of council members then withdrew their support.

Mr Leers, a Christian democrat aged 58, was known for an uncompromising approach to tax-evading traveller people at a caravan settlement in Maastricht, and for his attempts to fight softdrugs-related crime. He said on Wednesday that he accepted the council's verdict and resigned in the interest of Maastricht.

Gerd Leers taking off his mayor's chain of office (ANP Photo)