SOUTHAMPTON'S Queen Mary 2 will be delivered to her home port on time despite financial problems dogging the French shipyard where she is being built.

French engineering giant Alstom - the parent company that owns the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard - faces possible bankruptcy with debts of £3.4 billion.

A £2 billion rescue deal was due to be agreed today with the European Commission after the French government was persuaded not to underpin the package with public money.

Alstom also employs 500 train care workers in Eastleigh. The Daily Echo understands that, whatever the outcome, Paris will not accept any delay to the £550m contract to construct Queen Mary 2, which is the world's biggest, longest and grandest ocean liner.

Tens of thousands of people are expected to welcome her in to Southampton on December 19.

One industry analyst said: "It's a matter of French pride that Queen Mary 2 is delivered to England on time.

"Any delays would be a massive blow to the prestige of French engineering, and would deter other international companies from ploughing money into that country.

"France must deliver on the most prestigious shipbuilding contract in the world, or face losing other contracts."

A spokesman for Cunard, which owns Queen Mary 2, said of Alstom's financial difficulties: "It will not impact on the arrival. That's the assurance they are giving us."

Alstom, which employs 10,000 workers in the UK alone, has repeatedly refused to comment on its business matters.

The transatlantic Queen Mary 2 is to be named at the Queen Elizabeth II Terminal at Southampton port on January 10.

As previously reported, Cunard invited the Queen to do the honours, but Buckingham Palace has yet to officially respond, creating an air of uncertainty.

The Palace has refused to be drawn on unsubstantiated rumours that Queen Elizabeth was unhappy about the ship - named after her grandmother - being built in France in the first place.

Meanwhile, Cunard confirmed sea trials for Queen Mary 2 begin on October 25.