Plans to develop a special housing estate for gay people and transgenders in Tilburg were revealed as a hoax on Wednesday evening.

The Roze Maandag (pink Monday) foundation says it hopes the action will focus attention on intolerance towards gay people ahead of the Tilburg fair.

The first day of the fair – July 21 – is known as Pink Monday.

The ‘development plan’ for the village had been widely criticised by gay groups.

A spokeswoman for Tilburg’s mayor Peter Noordanus said on Thurday he had knowingly cooperated with the hoax but had not been aware of the details, broadcaster Nos reported. The spokeswoman was unable to say how Noordanus views the actual campaign.

Nos and newspaper NRC later sent an angry letter to the city council protesting at its involvement in the hoax. Both news organisations say the mayor’s role was ‘totally unacceptable’.