11 killed in cruise liner accident

About 20 people were injured when the gangway collapsed during an official visit which included dignitaries.

The ship completed sea trials a few days ago and is due to sail to her UK home port around Christmas.

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A spokesman at General Hospital in Saint Nazaire, Luc Ronchi, said the hospital had activated a "special plan" to deal with the influx of injured people.

Four medical teams were at the dockyard, with surgery cancelled at the hospital to deal with more admissions, he said.

Emergency services said the death toll could rise.

The Queen Mary 2 is the largest passenger ship ever built, with a length of 345 metres and as tall as a 23-storey building.

It is under construction at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard, owned by French heavy engineering firm Alstom.

Construction on the world's most expensive liner began in 2002, and it will become the flagship of British shipping line Cunard.

The £550m, 2,620-passenger Cunard flagship is due to sail to Southampton, where the Queen is expected to officially name the vessel in a ceremony on 8 January, 2004.

The ship is due to begin its maiden passenger voyage to Florida four days later.

From next April, the new ship will take over Cunard's Southampton-New York run from the QE2 which will be sailing on other routes.