A stack of beer barrels, a romantic castle and an alien - these were just some of the terms used to describe a proposed skyscraper in Brighton.

More than 250 people packed a public meeting at the Sallis Benney Theatre in Grand Parade to hear developers wax lyrical about their scheme for the Endeavour garage site on Preston Road.

But the meeting quickly grew heated as campaigners against the futuristic block began to heckle and jeer.

Chairman Martin Bacon, chief executive of the Civic Trust, struggled to keep order as the session overran by an hour.

Development company Karis called the meeting in a bid to persuade protesters the tower was a "romantic" answer to the city's housing shortage.

Planners have given permission for 125 flats at the site, including a block of 50 low-cost houses already being built but the main tower has still to be approved.

The building will have 39 underground car parking spaces, an area for 110 bicycles, a car club and a gym open to residents in Preston Road.

An opening presentation by Brighton architect Piers Gough was greeted with laughs of derision but was also given resounding applause at the end.

Mr Gough said his designs were inspired by the bays of the city's Regency houses and would continue Brighton's "architecture of pleasure".

The design, he said, was romantic and he likened the top of the building to a castle.

He said: "Developers have to challenge normality."

Karis boss Josh Arghiros invited experts in areas such as traffic and sustainability to answer questions from the public at the meeting.

Mr Arghiros said: "We're here to be exposed, to stand up and be counted. Put us to the test. We are trying, and we intend, to do our best."

Retired Brighton Borough Council planner Ken Fines, who heads Hova (Heritage Over Vandalism Actually), a group fighting against Karis' proposal for the King Alfred site in Hove, led the charge.

He said Preston Park, the largest conservation area, had to be protected and any claims the "bulbous 16-storey tower" had links to traditional architecture were "spin".

He said: "There is a renewed threat of intrusive tower blocks in our city.

"It's an alien, incongruous feature, utterly out of scale to the conservation area and the view to the south-east. It would dwarf the viaduct."

Morris Abrahams, of the Vallance Residents Association, said: "We've heard the building described as a castle and a crown. I think it looks more like a stack of beer barrels. If this is modern architecture, God help us all."

However, the tower also had its supporters.

Chris Morley, from Round Hill, Brighton, said: "I'm glad there are people and architects far-sighted enough to want to move into the 21st Century and give this city an outstanding building."

Jane Carver, of Beaconsfield Villas, Hove, said many people who supported the designs were too intimidated to speak at the meeting.