A mayor in central China's Hunan Province has admitted taking drugs and a urine test proved positive, according to local officials.

Linxiang City removed 43-year-old Gong Weiguo from his government post yesterday.

Huang Junjun, Linxiang's Party Secretary, told the Southern Weekly newspaper police had launched an investigation after disciplinary authorities in Hunan received reports alleging that he was a drug addict.

Gong is currently in hospital and being treated for depression, officials said.

He had asked for leave on April 7 citing a need for treatment of his depression, they said.

Huang said Gong had been "unusually grumpy" recently. "Sometimes he burst into a temper when we were having a meeting and even when he socialized with others outside work," Huang told the newspaper.

Gong was appointed mayor of Linxiang in December 2011.

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