THE French president has waded into a war between seafront attractions – announcing his support for the i360 project.

François Hollande gave the presidential nod of approval to the structure when he visited Sigma’s worksite in Veyrins-Isere in France.

During the official visit he is said to have praised the 162-metre viewing tower and was impressed by the plans as he met Francis Charamel, president of the company which has designed the pod and cable car technology.

The news comes after a battle of the tourist attractions broke out between the i360 and the Brighton Wheel.

Wheel bosses want the 50-metre tourist attraction to stay on the seafront until 2021. Paramount Entertainments has applied to extend permission for the seafront ferris wheel for another five years after its temporary agreement ends in April next year.

It has said the wheel’s continued presence will bring an extra £12.6 million to the city and could continue in tandem with the new i360, which is due to open next summer.

Wheel chiefs said concerns at its initial planning permission stage around noise, traffic and queues have not materialised because visitor numbers have been lower than predicted. It was estimated it would attract 250,000 visitors a year and, while it attracted 260,000 in year one, numbers fell to 186,000 in its second year.

Paramount’s application said a further five years of the Brighton Wheel will allow for “any delays in the introduction of the i360”.

But i360 bosses said they were “surprised” by the plans, claiming their funding deal with Brighton and Hove City Council was based on the city not having a rival viewing attraction.

Designed by London Wheel architects Marks Barfield, the i360 will be the tallest observation tower outside London allowing 200 visitors at a time to enjoy the view.

The visitor centre will have a 400 seat restaurant, a shop, children’s play area, exhibition space, tea rooms as well as conference and event facilities. Local engineers and contractors as well as those from Holland and France are all working on the project, which is currently under construction in front of the West Pier.