French town votes to change its name from Vandals!

London, Sept 16 : The residents of a French town have decided to change their name from the Vandals, as they didn't want to be associated with the 5th century tribesmen of the same name who rampaged across Europe.

The people of Vantoux, near Metz, have voted to change their name to Vantousiens, meaning "from Vantoux".

In June, the mayor and the City Council decided to launch the exercise, sending a form with six proposals to the 330 homes in the community - with 931 people voting to change the name.

"It's a matter of principle. Too many visitors come here expecting to meet the wrong kind of people," the Telegraph quoted mayor Claude Vellei, as saying.

"We're not vandals, and there is no reason why people should refer to us in this way," he added.

Vellei said he was pleased to have attracted "a real debate and true exercise of participatory democracy in the community".

However, some residents wanted to retain the town's original name.

ANI