SOUTHAMPTON could soon be forging civic, cultural and business links with the French shipbuilding city of St-Nazaire in Brittany.

Members of a high level delegation from Southampton have already held exploratory talks with their counterparts in France and have agreed to examine the possibility of taking connections further.

It is the massive 150,000-ton transatlantic liner Queen Mary 2, now being built in St-Nazaire which has brought the two cities together.

Representatives of Southampton City Council, including the Mayor, Councillor Brian Parnell, Associated British Ports, which owns and operates the docks, and Southampton and Fareham Chamber of Commerce have visited St-Nazaire at the invitation of French local authority together with the nearby shipyard constructing Cunard's QM2.

Although at an early stage, confidence is high among the party from Southampton that visited St-Nazaire that there could be many joint areas of interest to establish future ties.

During the visit discussions were held on how the councils, port authorities and chambers of commerce of both Southampton and Saint-Nazaire would be able to move forward to strengthen and put the initial links on a more formal basis.

Councillor Parnell said: "There is great scope for our two great cities to work together.

"We both have great heritages connected to the sea and ships and now we have been brought together by the construction of Queen Mary 2, which will, without doubt, be the most famous ship in the world.

"St-Nazaire is the birthplace of this magnificent liner and when she leaves here next December she will arrive in Southampton which will be her home port and where she will always be cared for and so our cities will always be linked throughout the life of this wonderful vessel.''

Joel Batteux, mayor of St-Nazaire, said opportunities had been missed in establishing an alliance between the French city and Southampton.

"In the past we have missed these opportunities to make the most of the ships that have been built in St-Nazaire and then left for Southampton,'' said the French mayor.

"That was at a time when competition between British and French companies was high, but that is no longer the case. We wish to bring about a strong relationship between our two communities, which have so much in common.''

It is hoped that later in the year representatives from St-Nazaire will visit Southampton for more talks on forming an association.

QM2, the longest, tallest, largest, widest and most expensive passenger liner in history, is being constructed at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard. The Cunard liner is due to arrive in Southampton in December and depart on her maiden voyage in January.