THREE crew members from the QE2 have been sacked after a spate of criminal damage on board the luxury liner left priceless tapestries damaged.

Part of a carpet in the entertainment area and three tapestries depicting the inaugural sailing of the ship were damaged along with some crew toilets and a lifeboat.

One of the wall hangings is still missing and is believed to have been thrown overboard. The tapestries were commissioned for the ship at the time of its launch in 1969 and depict royal scenes.

Three male crew members were detained on the ship as a result of the damage and were arrested by Hampshire police when the liner docked in Southampton on Saturday morning and released on bail yesterday without charge until May 26.

Inspector Graham Norman of Hampshire police said: "I think it is something that has been on the ship for a long time. As far as Cunard are concerned it is almost priceless, I imagine."

The damage followed a staff party held on the crew deck of the vessel as it made its way back from the Caribbean.

Police said two of the men were aged 22 and one aged 23. They were bailed to return to Bitterne police station.

Owners of the ship Cunard confirmed three crew members had been sacked as a result of the incident.