TENS of thousands of visitors are expected to converge along the Wirral side of the river next month to watch Cunard's three flagship cruise liners sail down the Mersey in formation.

The Three Queens - Queen Elizabeth, Queen Victoria and Queen Mary 2 – will be on Merseyside together on bank holiday Monday, May 25, as part of celebrations for Cunard’s 175th anniversary in the company's spiritual home, Liverpool.

The prospect of seeing all three majestic liners on the Mersey at the same time, for the first time, is likely to see the large volume of tourists that would already be in New Brighton on a holiday weekend swell to even greater numbers.

Wirral Council has plans in place to ensure everyone enjoys the spectacle, aiming to ensure safe and efficient passage in and out of the borough for visitors and minimal disruption for local residents and businesses on May 25.

They includes provision of a free Park & Ride service at the Dips in New Brighton, with parking for around 6,000 vehicles and buses running from there both to the resort centre and to Seacombe.

Vehicles will being signposted towards the ‘Park & Ride’ facility from junction One of the M53.

The main A554 road from Woodside to Harrison Drive in New Brighton will be re-designated a ‘Blue Route’ for the whole of Monday May 25.

It means there will be no stopping or on-street parking permitted along this entire stretch of carriageway, except in dedicated parking bays.

Roads leading down to the promenade will be marked as residents’ parking only.

Other public car parking places in the area will be open as usual, with the exception of the bays on Marine Promenade, which will be dedicated parking for Blue Badge holders only on May 25 and Wallasey Town Hall, which will be reserved for staff and volunteer stewarding the event.

Fort Perch Rock car park will also be closed as it will be used as a gathering place and vantage point for pedestrians that day.

There will be a big screen at Fort Perch Rock broadcasting live footage of the event, making it by far the best location for families to gather to spectate.

Visitors to New Brighton will be encouraged to use the facilities and services offered by existing local businesses and the Council plan strict enforcement action against anyone seeking to set-up and trade illegally on the street.

Mark Camborne, the authoriy's head of corporate and community safety, said: "Wirral is looking forward to playing a key role in the visit of the Three Queens on May 25.

"We know that the vantage points along this side of the river will provide a unique and unbeatable backdrop when the three liners rendezvous on that day and we anticipate thousands of visitors to the area to take advantage of those views.

"We are drawing on all the experience we have had in welcoming tens of thousands of people to Wirral for events such as the Open Championships and the Tall Ships race to make this another occasion to remember for everyone on this side of the river, for all the right reasons.”

Full details of Wirral’s plans for May 25 are on www.visitwirral.com/threequeens

Details of the whole Three Queens event and Cunard’s 175 anniversary celebrations are on www.onemagnificentcity.com