A climbing wall for jobless people in the city has won a temporary reprieve although neighbours demanded it was pulled down.

Residents living near the project feared climbers would be a noise nuisance as they stood at the top and shouted down instructions to novices.

They were also worried it would distract passing drivers.

However, a planning committee has allowed the wall, on the side of a house in Sutherland Road, Brighton, to carry on operating against the advice of officers who said it should be flattened.

Tony Hemingway, who lives in the house, applied to councillors for permission to retain the wall, which took three months to build.

It was recommended for refusal but councillors deferred the application to see if a compromise could be reached.

Mr Hemingway, 49, is co-founder of Craggers, a climbers group which runs adventure weekends for unemployed and disabled families.

He said: "Hopefully neighbours have now changed their minds having seen the wall doesn't result in much noise.

"I think people who objected misunderstood the development. People don't shout down instructions because they don't go up to rooftop height."

Neighbours thought the climbers should go to another wall at Brighton College but Mr Hemingway said it was not suitable and too expensive.

Committee members also heard that a petition with 62 signatures from climbers in support of the development had been presented .

Charities, including the Scarman Trust and the Unemployed Centre in Brighton, helped fund the wall.

Francis Tonks, Labour councillor for Moulsecoomb, said: "I don't think the objections to this are justified.

"I backed it because of the wall's importance for youngsters and disadvantaged people."

However, Peter Willows, Tory councillor for Hangleton, said: "I am totally against it. The wall seemed very dangerous and with the flat roof on top, users could look into other people's gardens."