A visiting balloon artist who planned to decorate a Front Street restaurant with his creations for Valentine's Day has had his dreams deflated.

Mike Wesley arrived in Bermuda from his native Ohio last week along with his wife and a suitcase full of balloons. On Thursday afternoon he adorned The Porch restaurant with flowers, hearts, birds and butterflies all made from balloons for the February 14 celebration.

But after his story ran in The Royal Gazette on Friday, Immigration officials ordered the restaurant to take Mr. Wesley's creations down.

And, to add insult to injury, Customs officers contacted Mr. Wesley to demand he pay duty on the balloons he brought in.

Mr. Wesley said: “The restaurant was dealing with Immigration but the managers were told the balloons could only be displayed on Saturday.”

Mr. Wesley was forced to take the balloons down on Friday and did not have time to replace them the following day.

“I had no concept that I had to pay duty on the balloons,”he said.

“It wasn't punitive but we (Customs and I) both had to get it right with each other and give each other our side of the story.”

The incident, however, hasn't left a sour taste in Mr. Wesley's mouth.

“I will be back to Bermuda as soon as I can. These are people who are trying to do their job,” he said about both Customs and Immigration workers.

“There are no hard feelings between me and the people who were just doing what they thought was best,” he added.

Customs and Immigration officials could not be reached for comment last night.