BOSSES at cruise giant Cunard have vowed to deliver Southampton's new Queen Mary 2 ship on time - and there will be a £50,000 party to celebrate.

Cunard, owner of the world's largest passenger liner, is confident a series of strikes by shipbuilders will not affect the delivery date of the £540m vessel which will arrive from France on December 19.

Meanwhile city leisure bosses have pledged up to £50,000 to celebrate the liner's arrival in its home port, which may include an aircraft flypast.

There was growing concern that industrial action by QM2 workers at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard might cause costly delays.

But a Cunard spokesman said Alstom, the French firm that owns the yard, has promised that the strikes over claims that some foreign workers had not been paid and others were working too many hours "will not affect delivery".

Next week the city council's ruling Liberal Democrat Cabinet will debate the proposals for a £50,000 event to mark the arrival of QM2.

But their proposals have been criticised by opposition parties.

Tory deputy leader Councillor Royston Smith said: "It is disgraceful. Cunard is a multi-million-pound company that is going to make many millions of pounds out of that ship.

The entire event should be paid for by Cunard.

"We can't find the extra money to collect refuse every week and yet we can find money for this."

Labour leader June Bridle added: "We want the naming event to be a brilliant occasion but should we be supplementing Cunard? I doubt we should be.''

Lib Dem leisure chief Councillor Peter Wakeford defended the plans.

He said: "It is our contribution to an event which will have a major impact in Southampton. This will be the Queen Mary's home port and she will be carrying our name around the world."

Confusion still reigns over whether the Queen will name the ship at the Queen Elizabeth II terminal in Southampton on January 10.

Cunard invited Her Majesty some time ago, but Buckingham Palace has yet to officially respond.