A Government investigation has begun into whether two 150ft funfair rides should be allowed on a famous pleasure pier.

The Noble Organisation, owner of the Palace Pier in Brighton, wants to build two booster rides at the end of the pier.

The firm has appealed to Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott after Brighton and Hove City Council threw out the proposal.

A two-day public inquiry, headed by Government appointed inspector, Katie Peerless, opened at Hove Town Hall this morning.

The two rides would each have a long arm with spinning seats at either end.

At 40 metres high, they would be double the height of most existing rides on the pierhead.

If the rides are approved, they will replace existing rides called Ventura and Ranger.

They would also rise above a 35 metre ride called the Megadrop, which was given permission two years ago but has not yet been built.

Roger Phillips, introducing the case for Noble, said this decision meant other tall rides should not be opposed.

He also referred to a 1999 public inquiry which allowed the firm to install tall fairground rides on the pierhead.

He said: "Any detriment the new rides might give rise to is more than outweighed by the economic benefits their provision would secure."

Mary MacPherson, for the council, outlined the importance of a "boisterous fairground" but said the two boosters would be "intrusive" and would "tower above the pier and be unacceptably prominent.

She said: "There is nothing in the evidence to support the arguments that without the introduction of 40-metre rides the pier will fall into disrepair."

The inquiry is due to end tomorrow and the inspector will then pass her recommendations to Mr Prescott for a final decision at a later date.