A UNITED States couple’s report that their six-year-old son was in a balloon that was hurtling away from their home was a publicity stunt, police in Colorado said.

Sheriff Jim Alderden said Richard and Mayumi Heene “put on a very good show for us, and we bought it”.

The sheriff said no charges have been filed yet, and the parents aren’t under arrest.

He added that all three of the Heene’s children knew of the balloon hoax, but probably won’t face charges because of their ages. But he said he expects to recommend charges of conspiracy and contributing to the delinquency of a minor against the adults involved.

Mr Alderden said interviews with the parents on Saturday resulted in enough information to get a warrant to search the house. He said they were looking for computers, emails, phone records and financial records.

Heene, a storm chaser and inventor whose family had appeared on the reality show Wife Swap. His wife claimed one of their older sons had said their son, Falcon, was aboard the balloon when it took off.

The child was later found hiding in an attic of the family home.