Swedish adventurer Per Lindstrand's plans for a £750,000 helium balloon have been grounded.

His proposal for a HiFlyer balloon, which would take 600,000 people a year 500ft in the air, were withdrawn yesterday before they were due to be discussed by Brighton and Hove city councillors.

Dr Lindstrand, who holds the world balloon altitude record, hoped the balloon would be airborne above Victoria Gardens in Brighton by April. But he withdrew the plans after officers recommended they were refused.

On Tuesday he told The Argus he was perplexed by their decision but said he was willing to work with the council to come up with a suitable proposal.

Critics labelled the plans ridiculous and said they would fight any further applications for the same site.

The company operates similar balloons around the world including Acapulco, Paris and New York.

When grounded, the HiFlyer would stand 120ft high, dwarfing nearby buildings. It would measure 72ft in diameter and be tethered to the ground through a 45-tonne high-tensile wire cable attached to an electrical winch system, to pull it back to earth after a flight.

An octagonal-shaped gondola below would carry 25 passengers every 15 minutes for about £10 each. At the same meeting yesterday, plans for a children's home were deferred so councillors can visit the site in Dyke Road, Brighton.

Scores of residents campaigned against the proposals, sending more than 200 letters of objection to the city council.

Lioncare, a company which looks after abused and traumatised children, hopes to house seven children aged five to 14 in the detached family house in Dyke Road, Brighton.

Speaking after the meeting, Matt Vince, Lioncare director, said he was worried the delay could put a stop to their plans.

He said: "The sellers have been hanging around for months waiting for the planning consent. They have been very good but understandably they want to sell up and move.

"The national minimum standard requires 25sqm of garden per child and we have 39sqm so I can't see what the problem is."

Residents fear the children would be noisy and threatening.

Ward councillor Jayne Bennett met with Mr Vince after the application was lodged and said she would be happy to discuss residents' concerns with him.

Resident Brian Baker said: "That road is incredibly dangerous and the garden is too small. They need room for kids to be kids."

The application will be discussed at the next planning committee on April 5.