An amateur storm scientist staged a hoax involving his son drifting off in a balloon because he fears the world will end in 2012, a researcher has claimed.

Richard Heene is suspected of attempting a publicity stunt in Fort Collins, Colorado, in a bid to get his own reality TV show.

Robert Thomas, who recorded Heene's ideas, told investigators the "obsessed" father wanted fame to earn money for a bunker that would save him from an apocalypse.

"Heene believes the world is going to end in 2012," Mr Thomas' lawyer Linda Lee said.

"Because of that, he wanted to make money quickly, become rich enough to build a bunker or something underground, where he can be safe from the sun exploding."