AMBITIOUS plans have been revealed to return the historic former Southampton liner Queen Mary to the seas.

The ex-Cunard cruise ship retired 42 years ago and is currently a floating hotel and leisure complex in Long Beach, California.

But now a Las Vegas based entertainment company wants to spend as much as £1 billion restoring the ship to her former glory.

Queen Mary sailed the north Atlantic between 1936-67 and was one of Britain's largest wartime troop carriers.

The proposals are being put forward by a US organisation called the Queen’s Project.

They say the project will take four years and are currently in talks over the plans with the local authority in Long Beach.

The plans now have the backing of entertainment firm Cairngorm Entertainment.

Robert Sides III, president and chief executive of the project, said "Can you imagine the grandeur of seeing her sail into harbour?"

The ship and 45 acres of undeveloped oceanfront surrounding it are controlled by New York-based Garrison Investment Group under a 66-year lease agreement.

The company has declined to comment on the plans for the Queen Mary and surrounding property.