Chippenham travel agents Lynda and David Brown will get a taste of the high life when they visit the Queen Mary II before the huge ocean liner's maiden voyage.

Mr and Mrs Brown were given a special invitation to join a tour of the QM2, in Southampton, on Friday.

"We are excited about going," said Mrs Brown, of David Brown Travel.

"The QM2 is something special because of the size of it, and the Cunard brand. It is taking over the New York to Southampton route from the QE2 and the ship is one step on from the QE2 it's a move forward."

Already the Station Hill travel agency has received bookings from customers wanting to travel on the liner.

Cunard Line officially took delivery of Queen Mary 2 just before Christmas.

At over 151,000 tons, it is the largest, longest, widest, tallest and, at £550 million, the most expensive ocean liner ever built.

The new flagship of the Cunard fleet is also the first true transatlantic liner to have been built since the line's Queen Elizabeth 2 entered service in May 1969.

QM2 sailed into Southampton on Boxing Day and received a tumultuous welcome. She will be named by the Queen in Southampton on 8 January.