A MASSIVE £50,000 party to celebrate the arrival of the giant superliner Queen Mary 2 is on the cards for Southampton.

City leisure bosses approved spending the money at a meeting of the council's Cabinet last night.

The giant liner is due to arrive in her home port some time in December.

Celebrations could include a flypast by aircraft and a waterfront party as the huge vessel - which cost more than half a billion pounds to build - eases her way into her home port.

City leisure bosses had been criticised by opposition parties for stumping up the cash to pay for the celebrations.

They told the Daily Echo last week that cruise giant Cunard should pay for the event.

But Liberal Democrat leisure chief Councillor Peter Wakeford defended the decision to spend the cash.

He told members that it was Cunard's responsibility to pay for the official naming ceremony but the council should contribute money when the vessel arrived in Southampton. He said: "She will be based in Southampton.

"If we have any intentions of taking the city forward then one has to make a judgement whether we undertake to do work that highlights the event."

But Labour's Councillor Richard Harris said: "Most people agree we need the city to celebrate the arrival of the boat.

"The question is whether we need to spend as much as £50,000."

Meanwhile, bosses at Cunard have vowed to deliver the ship on time - in spite of a series of strikes by workers at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in France.

There had been fears that the disputes would delay the completion of the £540m vessel which is due to arrive in Southampton on December 19 this year.

There is also confusion over whether the Queen will name the 150,000-ton ship at the Queen Elizabeth ll terminal in Southampton on January 10.

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