A projected image of the future Odeon Tower

The mayor of Beausoleil, Gerard Spinelli, who was recently released from prison following three months behind bars, has ordered work on the tower to be halted.

Although powerless to stop work on Monegasque territory the mayor, who is determined to clear his name of corruption charges, has been able to prevent preparatory work taking place across the border in his commune from advancing.

The tower is at the centre of a corruption investigation that led to the arrest last year of the Beausoleil mayor, who denies taking any money or influencing the project getting the go-ahead. The mayor is accused of taking tens of thousands of Euros cash to give the green light to the work.

Opponents of the project – including some residents of Beausoleil who will be overshadowed by the 47 and 49-storey towers – brought their protest all the way to the President Nicolas Sarkozy but to no avail.

PF